Children are in thrall to the mystical, hypnotic power of phone screens. They eat meals without complaint, remain calm and oblivious to the outside world, and even lull themselves to sleep while staring into the bright, animated screens. Phones are, in short, a godsend for parents. Their children are manageable as long as they have phones; they never stray out of bounds or badger their parents with incessant questions about the world and everything in it.

It is a neat solution to a common problem—children are greedy, exacting creatures. They demand constant attention, engagement, affection, and can tell whenever your mind wanders elsewhere. They bring up uncomfortable subjects, are brutally honest about your new haircut, and frequently embarrass their parents in public. But now, phones, magical as they are, do all the heavy lifting. No toy or........

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