Social Media

 

Oh, be careful, little eyes, what you see,
Oh, be careful, little eyes, what you see.
There’s a Father up above looking down in tender love,
Oh, be careful, little eyes, what you see.

This song has echoed through my mind for most of my life, and played on repeat while I watched the January 31^st US Senate hearing on Social Media.

The hearing was interesting, informative, and at times intense. The witness panel was a who’s who of Social Media - which included Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg,  X CEO Linda Yaccarino, Snap CEO Evan Spiegel, TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew, and Discord CEO Jason Citron. Lawmakers have recently condemned the tech industry for failing to protect kids from a "plague of online child sexual exploitation" as the social media apps have gone viral among America's youth.

Seated behind the witnesses were parents who were holding pictures of children who had been victims of mental health issues, cyber bullying, suicide, and pornographic exposure. In the opening statement from Senator Lindsey Graham, he told these tech CEOs that they had “blood on their hands”.

No matter the “age” we live in, whether it be stone or digital, the final responsibility to protect, nurture, guard, and instruct our children does not fall on the government, the public school system, or even the church. While we should want a government that sets moral boundaries, and a school system that educates effectively, and a church that heralds righteousness, we need parents. The responsibility to protect our children from the dangers of this culture ultimately falls on the parents.

What can we do? Be involved. This doesn't start with writing, calling, or visiting an elected official, it starts with you being a parent. 

Set Healthy Boundaries – Smartphones grant unrestricted access to the vast expanse of the internet. Parents should utilize parental controls and filtering tools to ensure that their children only access age-appropriate content.

Protect Mental Health – Excessive use of social media has been linked to mental health issues, including anxiety and depression, particularly in adolescents. Parents need to monitor their children's online activities and teach healthy limits on time. Excessive screen time can impede the development of crucial real-life social skills. Encouraging face-to-face interactions, outdoor activities, and family time helps balance the digital and physical aspects of a child's life.

Model It – By modeling a healthy relationship with technology, parents can influence their children's attitudes and behaviors. Demonstrating the importance of unplugging, setting limits, and engaging in non-digital activities helps strike a balance.

While social media and smartphones offer incredible opportunities for learning and connection, parents must be proactive in guiding their children through the digital landscape. By being involved, informed, and supportive, parents can ensure that their children develop a healthy relationship with technology, fostering a generation that is both digitally savvy, emotionally resilient, and God honoring. The responsibility lies with parents.

Psalm 127:3-4 Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth.

(By Tom Kennedy, Moral & Civic Concerns Leader for the Piedmont Okefenokee Baptist Association)