I say it is inappropriate as we can practically see a child as young as the age of 3 playing with iPhone and iPad at coffee shops as well as cafes everywhere. This is a good thing for the parents to somehow "control" their child without them being too noisy and running around the place. However, this causes the child to be less interactive with the family or parents. I personally had this experience over the new year where my nephew has been busy staring at my brother's iPhone throughout the day; playing with games. He ignored everyone who talked to him and even refused ang pao which is given to him. His entire world was just around the device. He never talked or replied to anyone.
Besides that, I have seen for myself random strangers and realized that it's becoming a trend that the parents would hand over their devices to their children the moment they sit down at the table, and from then on the child will be staring at the device throughout the entire mail ignoring everything that is happening around them. Not only does young children does it but also teenagers.
This attitude or behaviour will soon tear apart a family relationship as the family members no longer talk to each other over dinner as everyone is busy playing with their own devices. Some say that technologies are meant to improve our lives and I believe that. But there should be a limit to what it does.
Moreover, outings with friends often end up with each other facing their devices; busy checking their facebook, twitter and also instant messages.
