Your Teenager's Addiction to Technology

As most of us are aware, technology is impacting the world in both good and bad ways. Alex Gore discusses the urgency of parents knowing how social media, technology, and gaming are impacting students’ biblical worldviews.

Author

Alex Gore

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Technology

Your Teenager's Addiction to Technology

Date

December 14, 2018

Speaker

Alex Gore

Scripture

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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, 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 noted some ways to help your family.

Have a “technology” station in your home for EVERYONE, including parents, to place their phones.
Set a time limit for your family to use game consoles.
Get a digital alarm clock, not using your phone, iPad, or tablet.
Sit at the dinner and play card games instead of watching tv with everyone on their phones.
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.