Toddlers using smartphones: Is this a bad thing?

A new study reveals that 38 percent of children under the age of 2 have used smartphones and/or tablets. Under 2! Thesekids are barely talking in complete sentences before they get their tiny little hands on technology.

Common Sense Media, which conducted the survey, told Mashable that “this is a true sign that the digital generation has arrived.”

Indeed, it is. I’d like to rise up and be indignant about it, but this technology wasn’t around when my 16-year-old was a toddler, so I’m not sure if I would have used it or not. I do know that these days, my husband, my son and I are all frequently clutching our smartphones or tablets.

So I don’t subscribe to the notion that technology is bad. And, according to this latest study, the kids aren’t spending hours and hours online.

The study found that the average amount of time kids 8 and under spend on mobile devices each day has tripled in the past two years -- from five to 15 minutes. The number of children who use mobile devices has nearly doubled, to 72 percent.

I think, as with all things, are long as parents are being responsible -let’s hope the kids aren’t watching porn! -- this probably isn’t a terrible thing.

My one quibble: I do see a lot of kids in restaurants on smartphones or tablets instead of interacting with their family. That’s something I don’t even let my teen do.