Hidden Side of Steve Jobs And Bill Gates: They Banned Their Kids From iPads And Other Devices They Created

Bill Gates and Steve Jobs, names synonymous with the technological revolution, made an unexpected choice when it came to their own children’s interaction with the products they helped create. Despite championing the digital age, both Gates and Jobs chose to restrict their kids’ access to technology.

During a joint press conference with then-Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Microsoft Corp. Co-Founder Bill Gates made a statement that caught the attention of the press.

Gates and his then-wife Melinda took a decisive step by limiting screen time to 45 minutes for games, with an additional hour allowed on weekends. This was in addition to the time required for homework.

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“My kids get limited computer time,” he said. “Just because you’re the daughter of Bill Gates does not mean you get to play on your computer all day long.”

Gates, who also held off on providing his kids with cell phones until they turned 14, said he also set a time that his kids had to stop using computers to help them get to sleep at a reasonable hour. He looks for ways to balance technology for learning and social interaction while recognizing the perils of overindulgence.

“You’re always looking at how it can be used in a great way — homework and staying in touch with friends — and also where it has gotten to excess,” he told the Mirror in the U.K.

The late Steve Jobs, Apple Inc.’s co-founder, echoed Gates’ reservations about technology’s impact on his own family. In a 2011 interview with The New York Times shortly before he passed away, Jobs said he banned his kids from using the newly released iPad.

“We don’t allow the iPad in the home. We think it’s too dangerous for them in effect,” he said when asked whether his kids love the iPad.

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Despite touting the iPad as a game-changer for education, web browsing, video consumption and social interaction the year before, Jobs recognized the device’s addictive nature. He understood that once the iPad became a constant presence, resisting its allure would be a challenge.

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This article Hidden Side of Steve Jobs And Bill Gates: They Banned Their Kids From iPads And Other Devices They Created originally appeared on Benzinga.com

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