PARENTAL ADVISORY — Social Media Is DANGEROUS for YOUR KIDS!
Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek Murthy, just issued an advisory indicating that social media poses several mental health risks for children that need to be addressed immediately. I’ve included links below to both Dr. Murthy’s advisory and a summary of the advisory.
In this post I want to share a few practical thoughts for parents and grandparents. (These are only suggestions, not directives. Every intentional and wise parent should these through these issues personally.)
A Few Suggestions For Parents and Grandparents To Consider:
- Think twice, three times or more before casually giving your child unmonitored use of a smart-phone or a computer.
- Consider the age and maturity of your child when making a decision about the use of a smart-phone or computer.
- Consider the age and maturity of your child when it comes to allowing them access to social media. As Dr. Murthy indicated, social media now poses several risks when it comes to the mental health of our kids.
YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok and Facebook are NOT safe spaces for anyone, especially kids. These spaces now intentionally promote a worldview that is diametrically opposed to the gospel of Jesus and Christian faith. Predators also abound.
Parenting in the age of social media will require more vigilance and awareness than ever before. Parents who allow their children to spend hours in the bedroom on TikTok (or any other social media platform) are paying the cellphone bill and internet fees for the purposeful indoctrination of their kids by a culture that doesn’t share their values.
Parents who allow their children to spend hours in the bedroom on TikTok
(or any other social media platform) are paying the cellphone bill
and internet fees for the purposeful indoctrination of their kids
by a culture that doesn’t share your beliefs and values.
- Set daily and weekly time limits on social media use for your child.
- Consider having your child sign a smart-phone or computer parent/child contract before providing them with either. A sample contract is available here: https://www.focusonthefamily.com/parenting/is-it-time-for-our-kids-to-have-a-cell-phone/
- Establish limits and boundaries on smart phone, computer and technology use in your home early on. For instance, at 9 pm cell phones go on the charger located in the family room. NEVER, NEVER, NEVER allow your children to take their smart phone to their bedroom at night. EVER. By the way, this is also a great practice for adults.
- Let your child know that because you love them and care about them, you will periodically review their text messages, call history and screen time use. Start this early — very early — with your child so that it is an expectation. Be consistent in conducting this review.
Once again, parenting and grandparenting in 2023 will require greater diligence, attention, wisdom and love than ever!
Ephesians 5:10-18 contains some incredible insight for anyone and everyone navigating today’s incredibly dangerous landscape.
“Carefully determine what pleases the Lord. 11 Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them.
14 “This is why it is said: ‘Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.’
15 “So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. 16 Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. 17 Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do. 18 Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit…”
—EPHESIANS 5:10-11, 14-18 NLT
6 Directives from Ephesians 5:10-18:
- Discernment is biblical (v10).
- Boundaries are essential (v11).
- Alertness and attention are critical (vs14-15).
- Seizing every moment is possible (v16).
- Godly wisdom is accessible (v 17).
- Being filled with the Spirit is indispensable (v 18).
LINKS:
Advisory from Dr. Murthy
https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/sg-youth-mental-health-social-media-advisory.pdf
News Summary by CNBC
https://www.cnbc.com/2023/05/23/us-surgeon-general-we-must-protect-kids-from-social-media-risks-now.html