How safe would you feel if we went to bed each night with the front door open? Would you be able to sleep? Now imagine that strangers began to drop by both day and night: some dangerous and violent; some looking at or talking about all types of disgusting things; many of them making fun of you, and telling you that you have to change if you want to be liked. Would you feel protected? Would you feel safe? As crazy as this sounds, in a way, this is how we all are living in the era of smartphones, streaming, and social media. Any device with a screen is basically a door into our home and our lives. And if we aren’t careful, not only will a stranger occasionally pass through, but our enemy (Satan) will eventually move in and take over.
Like most things, technology is not good or bad. It always comes down to how it is used. Although media and technology have many positive benefits and uses, it has unfortunately become a devastating tool of the enemy that sadly destroys the lives of individuals and families every day.
Listen to what the Bible tells us about Satan. (Read 1 Peter 5:8) “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” We must understand that this is always Satan’s goal. He is always looking for ways to destroy our lives.
Ask This:
What are some steps we take to make sure that our home is safe? (Allow time for them to think and answer. Examples might be to make sure all the doors and windows are locked, to install an alarm or camera, or leave some lights on at night or when no one is home.)
In the same way, we must protect our home and family from the open doors that our devices create.
Here are three tests that we can use to help keep our family safe from the dangers of excessive screen time and social media.
1. The Content Test
Have you ever heard the expression “Garbage in, garbage out?” It basically means that whatever you consume (The food you eat, the words you hear, the images you see), your body will eventually produce. Jesus even spoke of this idea in Matthew 12:34, when he said “...For whatever is in your heart determines what you say.”
We are all responsible for what we allow ourselves to hear, see or talk about, and one day we will stand before God and will give an account for our lives. We must make sure that what we consume on our devices passes the content test: Read Proverbs 15:14 (NASB) and Psalm 101:3 (ESV)
2. The Clock Test
Here are some recent screen-time statistics from the Pew Research Center:
- Kids under the ages of 8 are on a cell phone an average of 50 minutes a day
- Kids ages 8-12 are on cell phones an average of 6 hours per day
- Teenagers are on their cell phones an average of 9 hours per day
- American adults average 7 hours and 11 minutes looking at a screen each day.
Read Ephesians 15:15-16: “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.”
Can you imagine standing before the Lord one day, and hearing Him say “Well done, good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of the Lord.”? Oh, and by the way, thank you for watching Netflix or Tik-tok videos for 7 hours every day. Can you imagine the feeling of embarrassment and waste?
How we spend our time significantly affects our lives and our family? We must use our time wisely.
3. The Control Test
We must understand that all social media and streaming services are businesses, and they are competing to control our time and our behavior. A 2019 survey showed that on average, Americans check their phone 96 times a day, which was a 20% increase from 2017. This number goes up to 150 times a day for teenagers and Millennials (18-24 years old).
Read I Corinthians 6:12: “You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is good for you. And even though “I am allowed to do anything,” I must not become a slave to anything.
The idea of slavery may seem extreme, but we must honestly ask ourselves if our device has become our masters. Does it control me? Do I need it to entertain me, or to feel joy or significance? If so, we must be willing to take the necessary steps to regain control of them.
Ask This:
- What could we as parents do better to set a good example with how we use our devices?
- What is one thing you do online that sometimes controls you or could be harmful to you?
- What is one goal each of us could set to protect ourselves from the “door” our device creates?
Here are some guidelines for healthy device use for kids and teenagers.
- Delay phone use for as long as possible. No earlier than 8th grade is recommended.
- Delay social media for as long as possible (Legally you must be 13 years old).
- Parents must have all passwords, and should regularly audit devices/apps with their child.
- No phones in bedrooms, but especially at night. (This includes charging and alarm clock)
- Set reasonable daily time limits (This includes the time of day and amount of time).
Resources:
We highly recommend the documentary Childhood 2.0. Featuring actual parents and kids as well as industry-leading experts in child safety and development, this documentary dives into the real-life issues facing kids today — including cyberbullying, online predators, suicidal ideation, and more.