Spike Lee Says Today’s Kids Are Missing Out On The Joy Of Playing Outside As Smartphones Take Over: ‘There Is Something Lost’

Spike Lee

Spike Lee Says Today’s Kids Are Missing Out On The Joy Of Playing Outside As Smartphones Take Over: ‘There Is Something Lost’

Spike Lee is looking back on the days when kids spent their summers running through neighborhoods instead of sitting inside glued to their phones.

During a recent interview with Variety, the legendary filmmaker opened up about how childhood has changed since he was growing up in Brooklyn. While technology has made life more convenient, Lee believes younger generations are missing out on experiences that once brought communities together.

“I don’t want to sound like an old fuddy-duddy but I’m an old fuddy-duddy, but kids used to get together and play on the streets, adults had nothing to do with it, and during summertime you’d have to be back before the lights come on. We played Bootys Up, stickball, stoop ball, you name it.”

Lee explained that children from his generation had to create their own entertainment without smartphones or video games. That meant getting outside, making friends, and finding ways to have fun without adults organizing everything.

Although he acknowledged that technology isn’t entirely bad, the director believes “there is something lost” when children spend more time on screens than interacting with one another.

His memories also connect to his 1994 film “Crooklyn,” which draws inspiration from his family’s upbringing in Brooklyn during the 1970s. The movie captures the neighborhood games, friendships, and family experiences that shaped his childhood.

For Lee, the concern goes beyond screen time. It’s about whether today’s kids are getting the same opportunities to build memories, explore their neighborhoods, and enjoy being young.