As most of us are aware, technology is impacting the world in both good and bad ways.

In the parenting matters series Rocky Creek provided for families, Ministry Intern Alex Gore discussed the urgency of parents knowing how social media, technology, and gaming are impacting student’s biblical worldview. Alex informed parents about the seriousness of this issue. He told parents about different social apps that have been linked to depression, insecurity, cyberbullying, idolization of self, authoritative matters, and many other emotions. The apps he connected to the byproducts of social media were: Twitter, Kik (messenger), Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, VSCO, Tinder, Badoo, Meetme, Bumble, and Vault (Hides pictures). Furthermore, he stated that the biblical worldview had been tainted due to student’s believing what social media tells them and shows them. 

Moreover, social media is teaching students that they must look a certain way, must get a certain number of likes/retweets/comments/followers and many other things to be “loved” or feel wanted.

All the while, parents are not aware they do not love on their child because they are believing the same thing that their child thinks as they surf the web or social media. Then, towards the end of this meeting, Alex shared the positives of this meeting by stating the ultimate solution. He noted that the final answer is to disciple your kid by living out the SHEMA (Deuteronomy 6:4-9). He also stated some ways to help your family.

 Ways to help with the addiction to technology, social media, and gaming:

1. Have a “technology” station in your home for EVERYONE, including parents, to place their phones.
2. Set a time limit for game consoles for your family.
3. Get a digital alarm clock, not using your phone, iPad, or tablet.
4. Sit at the dinner and play card games instead of watching tv with everyone on their phones.
5. Help your teen to get a job—preferably (practical advice from Jean Twenge)

While those ways may help, Alex encouraged parents to approach these ways with much grace. He said this because the internet generation is easily offended by everything as you are aware—take a look at Instagram and any other social media that provides instant gratification.

Great Resources

1. iGen by Jean M. Twenge
2. Screens & Teens by Kathy Koch

Last, Alex gave some accountability websites that could be used to monitor your family’s internet websites and your hand-held devices. 

Accountability Websites

1. Net Nanny
2. Forcefield
3. Covenant Eyes (For pornography users, highly recommended.)

To conclude, Alex stated that all of these ways to help could be a fast help, but surgery needs to occur on the heart. 

Apps that were listed in the in this blog post:

1. Badoo (Date)
2. Bumble (Dating)
3. Instagram (Social Media)
4. Kik (Messenger)
5. Meetme (Dating)
6. Twitter (Social Media)
7. Fake calculator Vault (iphone: hides pictures)
8. Snapchat (Social Media)
9. Tinder (Dating)
10. 10.Fake calculator Vault- (iphone: hides pictures)
11. 11.VSCO (picture website: Can be bad pictures)
12. 12.Vault (android)
13. 13.Facebook (Social Media)