Why can't kids use computers or type anymore?
Schools have stopped teaching basic computer literacy and touch typing, leaving kids unable to navigate desktops, use address bars, or type out simple websites. Without these fundamental skills, children struggle with basic digital tasks like joining online classroom games and risk falling behind as they progress through school.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
- 1framing payment as a reward for a task rather than just sitting a lesson
- 2using alternative rewards like screentime, specific treats, or trips
- 3finding organic situations where they wish to learn the skill, such as chatting with friends or playing video games
- 4teaching condensed versions of basic computer lessons in regular classes
- 5blocking specific search engines or platforms
- 6removing curriculum content to accommodate slow task completion
In their words
Unedited, most upvoted first, each linked to the thread it came from.
“They don't know the difference between an application and a file. They can't figure out anything on a desktop computer on their own.”source ↗
“They also can’t type. They can’t write by hand and they can’t type.”source ↗
“They don't know what an address bar is or how to type in a website.”source ↗
“Half of them can't even get on kahoot to enter a game pin because they can't grasp the concept of just typing in www.kahoot.it and being right at the screen to put in the pin.”source ↗
“I teach primarily juniors and seniors. They don’t know how to do anything!”source ↗
“we've discovered that the elementary school our children are attending no longer teach the students to touch type on a keyboard, and that is absolutely a skill that we want them to have.”source ↗
Where this came up
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