Why Do These Teens Smash This New Ipad?

By Steve On April 6, 2010 · 14 Comments

I’m just curious and would love to hear your input as to why teens would buy a brand new ipad and then destroy it.

This post is just for discussion, please leave your thoughts and if you are a teen I would love to hear your thoughts.

Subscribe For FREE Youth Ministry Ideas

ashleigh says:

July 7, 2010 at 10:03 am

I think these kids probably wanted to do something that would get people talking about them and paying attention to them….

I thought it foolish to destroy something so costly in value but in the end I really do think there is a message that can be taught from this even if these brilliant young teens did not realize it at the time….

The Ipad is valuable, something that was expensive and paid for at a high price. It would seem so foolish to for no reason to destroy something considered this valuable…I mean money doesnt just grow on trees (for most people) and at $600 a pop these items arent that easy to come by…so why be so foolish and destroy something like this?

Even better does God not say that we are valuable? That we were paid for at a high price? But yet we take freedom He gave us forgranted and trade it in for the temporary rip off’s the world has to offer. We willingly destroy ourselves through sin …..we beat our spirits and bodies up just like the dear old Mr. IPad. We drink, we drug, we lust and we hurt ourselves all for a high to make life seem a little better?

Don says:

July 2, 2010 at 1:23 pm

Well, you could see it like this. When you own a channel or have an account on youtube you are able to make money for the ads that are displayed while your video is playing. If your video gets enough views you could make a load of money. I am not completely sure that is what these kids did this for, however if I would have thought of it. I would have done the same its just business. Spend 600 get 6,000 its not a hard decision.

Business men and women do worse everyday. Exporting our labor jobs to other countries. Selling out friends for a little extra cash. Lending someone money that they know that person can’t repay.

This is just a way to make money! It doesn’t actually hurt anybody. So, I would say let them be creative in how they make money.

Nik says:

June 16, 2010 at 10:50 am

My hope is that this was done to make a point. My guess is as good as anyone else’s. Breaking an iPad though is not a representation of how much these kids need Christ. The iPad breaking was destructive, but so was overturning the tables in the temple.

Robin M. says:

June 4, 2010 at 9:17 pm

my personal thought about this

1) we have a few teens in destruction mode

2) we have a video camera

3) we have time

lets destroy something what do we destroy , hey how about this camera ( but wait we cant video this and youtube it) so we need something to destroy , i got it why not this ipad , apple can make more and we can always buy another

the real opinion is this kids have a very different way of gaining notoriety than we did as teens , when i wanted to rebel i started smoking when i wanted to tear something up i got a wrench maybe a few other tools , so the real question is where was there guidance and since of moral judgement , where was Jesus when this was going on Where was God?

if anyone would like to Flame me go ahead i stand firm in they need God in their lives and that seems to be lacking in a lot of teens and adults these days so destruction is fun to them , God Bless you all

ben golden says:

June 2, 2010 at 3:14 pm

how do you know for sure it was new? if an apple product breaks and no longer works, apple does not replace it unless you bought a warranty, so why keep it around? teens do not usually do unexplainable things. My guess is that the owner accidentally broke it and couldn’t get it fixed without having to pay a ton of money, so why not do something to it that you’d never do if it was working? destroying an ipad: better than a movie!

Joseph Graves says:

May 19, 2010 at 1:19 pm

I think it’s because they not only wanted attention (through video taping it), but wanted to destroy something that was seen as modern. When we actively destroy something, it allows us to exert power over that thing, and all that it represents. Now I don’t think they were consciously thinking about it like that, and quite honestly it probably wasn’t their reason. They probably just thought it was random, or maybe they were a group of PC guys against macs… who knows… but I bet you they felt a sense of adrenaline in the process (at least more than they would if they smashed a pop can), and that is cause by the feeling of rebellion, control, and exertion of power over a system. I destroyed an old piano once, in a fire. It was a unique feeling… kind of liberating really. Have you ever seen Donnie Darko? Same principle. (not that I agree with it).

MattT says:

May 11, 2010 at 9:25 am

To Geoff V.

If you really think there was a big plan behind this outside of them just wanting to break something expensive, listen again to 1:09-1:11. “So what was the point of this?” “To have fun”

Jason says:

April 21, 2010 at 8:22 pm

Quote from Geoff V.
“It is a very ‘adult’ idea to say they did it for attention rather than looking at what is really going on here.”

You can’t be serious? Or maybe you’re just trying to sound “smart.” There wasn’t anything message oriented going on in that video.

“Who is harmed by destroying the iPad?”

Definitely not Apple…the teens gave them money and more publicity.

Geoff V. says:

April 19, 2010 at 1:57 pm

It is a very ‘adult’ idea to say they did it for attention rather than looking at what is really going on here.

The hype for this an other similar Apple product was aimed at youth. It is natural for these ‘kids’ to own the message by destroying the article of the message.

This is a rejection of what youth are told they must:
Like
Use
Buy
Love
Incorporate into their inter-personal relationships

Who is harmed by destroying the iPAD?

FREDBAI says:

April 8, 2010 at 7:17 am

I think this is a preview of todays teens that will do anything to get attention! If you do not believe this just go to a shopping mall and sit and watch some of them pass. Not all teens are guilty of this,just the ones that need mental help!!! I see more and more of it every day on the news and in person.
To take a new ipad and destroy it for fun,after working and saving your money to buy it does not show he is mentally stable to me. But look at the attention he received like a little baby!!!!

Tim Schmoyer says:

April 7, 2010 at 10:05 pm

Because it makes for a popular video. People will talk about it and blog about it.

Renz says:

April 7, 2010 at 11:02 am

I heard this on the news and thought the project was going to be more scientific than just destroying the iPad….but No! Just for Kicks!
Obviously, time and money that could be spent in better ways.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XGUppxoJUVg to see the destruction.
The first few hits, it held up pretty well…maybe they will make it
all back via a commercial.
There is another one being set on fire, but it doesn’t actually show the burn…so maybe not for real.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_IlJ7jffHI&feature=related here’s one with an axe. Insanity!

The better is the comparisons done between an iPhone and the iPad now that was helpful. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=anEouIbCX2c (Comparison)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AycnFEbtxWQ and a second one.

Challenges for News Delivery on the horizon. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZ66yY8y68s

Steve says:

April 7, 2010 at 7:58 am

I know it’s probably just because teens can or want to get a reaction out of someone. I wonder if there is a video of teens flushing 600 bucks down the toilet bowl too.