BUT... THAT'S NOT REAL LIFE.
In real life, you’re cooking dinner while they scroll TikTok upstairs. You’re trying to ask about their day - and they grunt, “Fine,” without looking up. You’re juggling work emails, laundry, and a gut feeling that something’s not right online…. but you don’t know how to bring it up without them shutting down.
You try to check in - they roll their eyes. You back off - worried you’ll push too hard. They think you don’t get it. You’re scared they’re right.
You love them more than anything. But love alone can’t slow down the internet, stop the strangers, or filter the algorithm. You can’t protect them from what you can’t see. And you can’t influence them if they’ve stopped listening.