Teens In Social Media
Everywhere I go, I see some kind of technology. It has transformed
society, much like the printing press, radio or TV. However, what makes
technology unique is that it’s so intertwined in our lives that it’s unavoidable.
Technology was supposed to make life easier. More information at our
fingertips. More shortcuts to simplify daily routines. But as parents,
technology often makes our lives more difficult. Apps, video games, bingewatching and social media can become a time drain for our kids. Technology
also creates a direct—and sometimes dangerous—portal of influence to our
children. Instead of enhancing our kids’ lives, it can isolate them and open
them up to cyberbullying, distorted messaging and risky behaviors.
Benton Harbor Church's guide to Technology and Entertainment is designed
to help you take the first steps toward being up-to-date on the latest
research. The goal of this resource is to encourage you to stop and think
about the technology your family uses and the entertainment you consume.
It will also help you understand and navigate the pitfalls of today’s most
popular digital platforms and games. As parents, we need to educate and
support our children in developing healthy technology and entertainment
habits. God, through His Word, tells us to be attentive, be authentic and
pursue unity with one another. That’s great advice on how to live—and how
to act in our use of technology and entertainment.
My son was 11 when he first asked, “Can I have a cellphone?” Then he quickly added, “Most of the kids in my class have one.” Statistics show the average age that a child receives a smartphone is 10.
1 I knew my son was not yet ready for the onslaught of information and decisions that come with owning a mobile device—most kids aren’t. Convincing them of this fact can be a challenge, but it’s a challenge worth accepting. The online world seems to become more enticing every day. With more immersive gaming and new social media outlets, it’s also more addictive. Fifty-four percent of teens even admit to spending too much time on their cellphones.
2 Teens may spend up to nine hours every day on video games, YouTube and social media. Eight-to-12-year-olds aren’t far behind, staring at a screen for six hours a day.
3 As a counselor, I interact with parents who have questions about technology use for their kids and entertainment choices for their family. Many wonder if it’s OK to give a toddler a child-friendly tablet, or to allow their school-age children to have their own mobile phone, or for a young child to watch a PG-13 movie. Technology and entertainment certainly add complications to the important job of raising kids. That’s why it’s important to approach technology and entertainment use with intentionality and sensible limits.
You can always check us out on Facebook with tons of information.
Benton Harbor Church
My son was 11 when he first asked, “Can I have a cellphone?” Then he quickly added, “Most of the kids in my class have one.” Statistics show the average age that a child receives a smartphone is 10.
1 I knew my son was not yet ready for the onslaught of information and decisions that come with owning a mobile device—most kids aren’t. Convincing them of this fact can be a challenge, but it’s a challenge worth accepting. The online world seems to become more enticing every day. With more immersive gaming and new social media outlets, it’s also more addictive. Fifty-four percent of teens even admit to spending too much time on their cellphones.
2 Teens may spend up to nine hours every day on video games, YouTube and social media. Eight-to-12-year-olds aren’t far behind, staring at a screen for six hours a day.
3 As a counselor, I interact with parents who have questions about technology use for their kids and entertainment choices for their family. Many wonder if it’s OK to give a toddler a child-friendly tablet, or to allow their school-age children to have their own mobile phone, or for a young child to watch a PG-13 movie. Technology and entertainment certainly add complications to the important job of raising kids. That’s why it’s important to approach technology and entertainment use with intentionality and sensible limits.
You can always check us out on Facebook with tons of information.
Benton Harbor Church
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