New York Gov. Kathy Hochul managed to pull a punch this week when she claimed during a business conference in California that there are kids in the Bronx who “don’t know what a computer is.”
What Hochul actually said was this: “Right now there are young black kids growing up in the Bronx who don’t even know what the word computer is. “They don’t know, they don’t know these things.” Hochul said this amid a broader rhetorical attack that included a push to expand “the economic possibilities of artificial intelligence for low-income communities,” as it was called The Associated Press put it. Here is the full clip:
As expected, it was Hochul mocked pretty harshly for this recording. After some outcry locally on Monday, Hochul predictably stuck her tail between her legs and issued a statement claiming, “I misspoke and I regret it. “Of course black kids in the Bronx know what computers are.”
To say that Hochul’s previous interpretation of urban digital literacy compromises credibility is putting it mildly. Let’s face it: computers exist everywhere. If, for some reason, you and everyone you know have never owned a computer (doubtful), never seen one on TV (again, seemingly impossible), or somehow never set foot in a public school that at least has one a few computers, you have to assume, you would have at least heard of computers from a teacher or another child, there are still crowds of people walking through the city They hold small computers in their hands, the whole time. Maybe Hochul was thinking about babies? Or dogs? I’m pretty sure there are still some babies and dogs who don’t know anything about computers.
Listen, I actually think it would be great if fewer Children knew what computers were. When popular social scientists like Jonathan Haidt are to be believedNowadays, most children grow up with an iPhone on their face, which causes many of them to become mentally ill. In fact, today’s youth seem to have their childhood ruined by constant digital connection. So if Hochul really cares about New York’s children, she should look to expand access to non-digital services that would allow for greater socialization. Hochul should try to ensure that every child in New York, just like the fictional children from the Bronx she spoke of, can afford to spend their early years with little understanding of our digital landscape. Save our children now, Kathy!