The story
Popularized in January 2021 after Gen Z TikToker Gabe Escobar criticized Millennial parents for allowing excessive screen time for their children.
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.
iPad kid
Today it means: A child, generally Generation Alpha, who gets all of their entertainment through an iPad or other tablet; a child who is addicted to using their tablet. Full definition →