Meanings
plural iPad kids
- InternetderogatorymildlysometimesA 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.
That iPad kid went ballistic in the restaurant after his mom took his iPad away.
2 more examples
Unfortunately, technology is growing in popularity by the minute, even establishing itself in our education and physical activity. Now more than ever our society is supporting the development of iPad kids.
2022 January 23, Bart Pursel, “The Infamous iPad Kid”, in Sites at Penn State, archived from the original on 25 Apr 2023, retrieved 25 Apr 2023Some in Generation Z have frowned upon the idea of raising their own children as "iPad kids" after witnessing recent hyper fixation with technology.
2022 October 26, Ashley Hagar, Hisham Bensaadat, “"iPad Kids" are Shaping the Future of Education”, in The Spectator, Seattle UniversitySynonyms: iPad baby, iPad child
Synonyms & antonyms
nounA 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.
Origin
Popularized in January 2021 after Gen Z TikToker Gabe Escobar criticized Millennial parents for allowing excessive screen time for their children.
Full word history & related roots →Cite this entry
iPad kid. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/iPad%20kid
“iPad kid.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/iPad%20kid. Accessed November 4, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “iPad kid,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/iPad%20kid.
Source: iPad kid on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.