Rabat – Moroccan parents are now experiencing what they once warned their teenagers about. The roles have quietly reversed.
For years, many parents told their children not to spend too much time on their phones. They spoke about distraction, lost focus, and the importance of real-life interaction. Today, however, it is often the parents who are deeply immersed in their screens, while many young people are beginning to step back.
Modern devices make life easier. They help us work faster, communicate instantly, and access information within seconds. But convenience can easily turn into dependence. When scrolling becomes automatic, presence disappears.
You might hear someone speaking to you, but your mind is elsewhere. A distracted “okay” slips out while your thumb keeps moving. In that moment, you miss more than information; you lose human connection. Over time, these small distractions create distance in relationships.
What is surprising is that many young people are starting to recognize this. After growing up in constant connectivity, some are choosing balance. They are going on hikes more often. They gather with friends without checking notifications every minute. They sit in long conversations where time passes unnoticed.
They are rediscovering what it means to be present.
Unlike the stereotype of youth glued to screens, many are actively seeking nature, quiet nights, and meaningful exchanges. They are romanticizing simple moments like facial expressions, gestures, shared laughter, silence. They are craving depth in a world that moves too fast.
This shift is not about rejecting technology. It is about using it intentionally. Screens are tools. When used beyond necessity, they quietly take more than they give.
Parents once had a life built on imagination, slower rhythms, and uninterrupted attention. Ironically, it is now the younger generation reminding everyone what that balance looked like.
Ultimately, this reversal reflects something deeper: a desire to reclaim human connection. Young people are stepping back, choosing presence over noise, depth over distraction. And in doing so, they are redefining what it means to live fully.
