Recently, US President Barack Obama launched his government's tech program 'ConnectHome' that intends to bring low-cost or free high-speed internet to low-income households. The President wants to widen the opportunities for these families to have access to internet and use it to apply for jobs, learn online courses or research homework for the students.
President Obama, however, reminds the young people, who will greatly benefit from this initiative. He refers to the youth as 'too connected' spending endless hours of screen time on their phones or in front of computers, he says on Huffington Post.
He shares that in their home, during dinner time, no phones are allowed. Instead, interaction and conversation is highly encouraged and practiced.
He shares the story meeting young people, and they are too busy on their phones, connecting to social media. He tells them to 'look up.' He instructs them: 'shake the hands of your President, look into my eyes and say your name. then you can go back to taking photos on your phone.'
In a separate 2012 interview with First Lady Michelle Obama, she shares their ground rules about screen time. These are the guidelines being followed by the First Daughters, Malia, now 17 and Sasha, now 14. No TV or computer / laptop during the week, except if it's school-related. She explains that these days, study groups are being done through video chat. To make sure that they are really studying, the First Mom monitors her children and even talks with the teachers about homework and school stuff.
The First Daughters both go to Sidwell Friends School in Washington D.C. On top of school work, the girls are both into tennis and piano. Malia is also into soccer, dance and drama, while Sasha likes gymnastics and tap dance. When their dad was elected President, Malia was only 10, and Sasha was 7.
