How much freedom did you have growing up?

[candycanearter07]

i think my restrictions were more mental than anything, my parents were both usually pretty busy and didnt care as much about the stuff i did so it was an uphill battle to go out and do anything... so like i never had any drive to go outside. online tho like i didnt really have many restrictions besides just not talking to people online. perfect storm to ruin a persons social skills forever

[MrsMoe]

In terms of the internet and the computer, I pretty much had total freedom. There was stuff my parents definitely didn't want me watching or repeating, but nobody was ever monitoring what I was looking at or restricting certain websites for me. This had it's pros and its cons, and I'm mixed on it as a whole. On the one hand, it's largely responsible for my endless internet addiction, but there's a ton of stuff I wouldn't be into now if I was barred off from them.

I had a lot less freedom when it came to the real world, however. It's not that my parents wouldn't let me do anything, but my mom has always been super overprotective and micromanaging. I was the furthest thing from a latchkey kid and I couldn't really go anywhere alone even at the age of 10-12. Even as a teenager/adult, my mom would investigate the things I wear and safety prep me if I even just wanted to walk to the corner store. Really makes me wonder why I barely ever left my room /s

[Dynaknights]

After much consideration, I've come to a conclusion: fuck if I know.

I had simultaneously too much and too little freedom. I've never had restrictions on any device that wasn't issued by a school. Ever. I've only been confronted about what I've been doing on the internet a handful of times -- and that was only when I'd gotten in trouble for something else I did!

On one hand, I've had a serious loneliness problem since childhood. Social exclusion, undiagnosed whatever-the-fuck, societal resentment, all that jazz. Internet access was probably the only thing that got me through the COVID pandemic since I didn't have friends in real life to hang out with, not to mention it helped with learning I wasn't cishet in the process. Then again, I wish at least my parents had exhibited at least a smidgen of care for my activities on the web because I've been exposed to some heinous shit, done some heinous shit, and have been some downright awful people as a result of this loneliness.
I remember my parents always being so surprised at how dependent I was on my phone. And it's like, what'd you expect? I had nothing to do and no one to talk to in meatspace. Of course I was going to go crazy with digital escapism!

Regarding the too little freedom, it felt like I wasn't allowed to make or hang out with any friends without prior parental approval. Everyone was subjected to a background check, I still have to be back at my house before sunset (I'm almost twenty), and I feel as though my parents wanted nothing from me but to be a third parent; they sure as hell treat me as though I were neglectful and abusive over a caregiver role I didn't want. Oh well.