Remember the days when technology didn’t completely take over our lives? Sadly, in 2019, it’s too easy to get sucked into our screens, whether we’re checking our emails or scrolling through Instagram. And this doesn’t just affect adults either — many kids are basically born with a phone in their hand. It’s not uncommon to see a child in a stroller watching cartoons on a parent’s or babysitter’s iPhone, or enjoying the puppy face filter on Snapchat. On the bright side, this access to technology can be great for curious kids to learn on-the-go with fun tutorials on YouTube or a never-ending library of e-books to browse through.
But, as most of us know, too much screen time isn’t good for anyone — especially when it allows kids to constantly turn to a screen over quality social interactions.
This issue has now made its way onto the restaurant scene, and it’s not only contributing to extra tech exposure for children. It may also potentially be threatening jobs in the service industry.
At many airports and chain restaurants, you can find a little tabletop tablet where you can make quick and easy orders without even speaking to a server.
PRNewsFoto/Olive Garden
You’ve most likely seen them at Olive Garden, since they started testing them out in 2014.
Yes, that means unlimited breadsticks — without saying a word — at the tips of your fingers.
But the tablets aren’t just for food. They’re also stocked with entertainment for kids.
However, it’s all fun and games… until you realize that this extra service isn’t always free.
On Reddit, user QuantumQuantonium created a thread showing how a tablet he came across advertised “unlimited play of all the games” with two buttons: a large green one that says “let’s play” and a smaller, less vibrant, and almost shadowed button below saying “cancel $1.99 purchase.”
How to trick kids into adding $1.99 onto a restaurant bill from r/assholedesign
With this layout and design, kids can easily tap through unaware of the extra charge that will be added to the bill at the end of the meal.
Some servers take the initiative to remove the charge if a customer complains, but others leave without even noticing.
It also raises the issue of allowing children too much time in front of a screen.
And poses an issue for parents trying to avoid them while encouraging quality time with the family.
Regardless of the additional charge, some people claimed to not mind their kids playing a quick game or two.
But it looks like these tablets aren’t going anywhere any time soon. According to reddit user GrabemGoose, servers are required to use the tablets and are scored based on how much they’re used.
But as user Jozarin pointed out, isn’t it a good thing that customers are opting to speak with a friendly server rather than using the tablet?
I mean, just look at this rave review from a customer at Chili’s:
These tablets are supposed to be more convenient for customers, but one user speculated that the addition of this technology at restaurants might cut back on the need for servers.
So, will these little tablets take over the restaurant industry? Who knows.
In the end, as much as we love technology, nothing beats some quality customer service.
