It's so rude to let your kid blast their device for everyone to hear

"I feel like when it’s a kid blasting audio, it is indirectly the adult to blame," said one person in a 4000-strong comments section.

It's the question of the decade: Is it rude to allow your children to play audible videos in a restaurant?

One would think the answer would be straightforward - yes. 

And yet it keeps happening in restaurants, cafes, public spaces and on public transport, around the world, daily. (Of course, this discussion doesn't include kids who can't wear headphones.) Which is why the question was the title of one person's post this week. They asked: 

"I’m noticing more and more how some parents allow their kids to watch videos [aloud] in the middle of a restaurant. Not only is this a missed opportunity to engage and teach them to sit still and self sooth, but it’s also even worse because it disturbs other restaurant patrons.

"I have to wonder if I’m the only one that shakes my head at this?" 

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"Indirectly the adult to blame"

An overwhelming response from the crowd was in agreement with the poster, with over 4,000 comments in support. 

" I feel like when it’s a kid blasting audio, it is indirectly the adult to blame. I also see adults blasting audio in restaurants too. Just the other week, I went out to eat with a few people and two adults sitting next to us had their phone propped up on the table while they ate and watched YouTube videos. It was a small restaurant too, everyone could hear it," one wrote. 

"Yes it's rude. I don't care if kids play. I care if they play loud repetitive videos and games. There's a qualitative difference between the sounds of conversation and the sound of a device blaring from bad speakers. It's piercing and hard for the brain to filter out the way it does human voices," a second added. 

"In the world of social etiquette, it is definitely a felony," said a third.

Image: iStock

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This commenter made an even harsher judgement: "Not only is it a missed opportunity to engage with your family during an outing without electronics but it’s rude to make everyone around you to listen to annoying videos while they are trying to have a meal.

"If you really need to occupy your child with electronics then have the courtesy to use headphones. I’m not anti-kids. I have kids of my own. I feel the same way with adults and their phone conversations on speakerphone in public places. I don’t want to hear their conversations either."

A teacher with 25 years' experience added her thoughts: "I can unequivocally say that children's attention spans have shrunk since the proliferation of screens in everyone's pocket. It makes me sick to see toddlers swiping through their parent's phone in a grocery store.

"You're teaching your kid that, although this whole world is around you, it's not interesting unless it's on a screen. Is it that challenging to speak with your kid and just be there in the moment?"

Finally, there was this assessment: "I know this is an old man take (I'm not quite 50), but I see these kids who don't know how to have a conversation, or how to make up games, or how to enjoy anything that is not on a screen." 

Originally published as It's so rude to let your kid blast their device for everyone to hear