The scene is, unfortunately, familiar. A family gathered around a table at a local restaurant, yet everyone is consumed with the device in their hands. The kids are on their iPads, watching YouTube videos with headphones on, while Mom and Dad are equally consumed with endless scrolling through Instagram Reels or responding to work emails. No one makes eye contact or even acknowledges the people they love sitting around the table. Each is engrossed in their own online world, completely unaware of how their screens are shaping their hearts and minds. While it’s easy to be judgmental when we see this scene, if we’re honest, it may also be happening in our own homes. It’s easy to see the immediate problem of wasted hours in front of a screen, but what if the issue is much deeper? How is technology shaping what our children love, trust, and worship?
Although the impact of technology is debatable, we must recognize that technology is never neutral.
Every screen has a gospel, so we must guide our children to discern the messages their screens are communicating. With social media, we know that algorithms are designed to keep us engaged longer, so we will see more ads from companies competing for our attention. While we often focus on the content that our children are seeing, which is crucial to consider, we must also pay attention to what these screens are teaching our children to desire. Our kids may be able to give the right Christian answers about what they should desire above all else, but their screens are discipling them to love the things the culture around them promises. These counterfeit dopamine releases satisfy their need for instant gratification and others’ approval, while leaving them empty and looking for their next hit with every screen refresh.
As adults, we recognize this endless cycle, and yet we can feel powerless against it. Imagine how much harder it is for our children to grasp the lasting impact of what they view, not only on their minds, but on their hearts as well. If you have ever experienced your child pouting or rolling their eyes at you when you tell them they have had enough screen time, you’ve seen firsthand how their hearts can become attached to the constant entertainment their screens provide. Help your child learn that being bored can actually be a good thing. Let them explore different interests, discover their passions, and develop their creativity—rather than simply watching someone else do something online. We must remind our children that, as believers, we are called to set our minds on things above, not on earthly things (Colossians 3:2), and that whatever has their attention has their affection.
Not only are our children being discipled to love what they are constantly exposed to online, but they are also becoming increasingly trusting of the voices they hear. Today’s children have access to more information than any previous generation, but having more information does not necessarily lead to greater wisdom.
We are responsible for guiding our children to discern what is presented as truth. Our children don’t just need media literacy; they need biblical discernment.
Just because they can use Google or ChatGPT to answer their questions, or encounter the same opinion repeatedly in their newsfeed, doesn’t mean the information they receive is true.
We can help our children develop a Biblical worldview of technology by teaching them to ask:
- Is this information true?
- Who is the source of the information?
- What do they want me to believe?
- What assumptions or worldviews are behind the message?
- And does it align with what God has revealed to be true in Scripture?
We shouldn’t shelter our children from competing worldviews, but expose them to different ideas and teach them to think critically and discern truth. As stated above, no technology is neutral. The media our children consume is always portraying a worldview. The next time your family watches a movie together, help them intentionally look for things that contrast with the Truth of Scripture. Model how important it is to renew our minds daily by spending time in God’s Word (Romans 12:2). As they learn the truth of God’s Word, they will become better equipped to spot counterfeit truth, even from a young age.
Finally, we must help our children recognize the true object of their worship. If they have been raised in a Christian home, their automatic answer will likely be “Of course I worship God!” Their online habits, however, may communicate something completely different. Webster’s Dictionary defines worship as “extravagant admiration and devotion to someone or something.” Although technology itself may not necessarily be an object of worship for your child, it can easily become a delivery system for idols. Theologian John Calvin famously said, “Man’s nature, so to speak, is a perpetual factory of idols.”1 We can help our children evaluate whether what they view online has become an idol by asking, “Where do you turn when you feel anxious, lonely, bored, or insecure?” If their immediate response is to turn to technology, their answer may reveal where their heart’s worship really lies. Jesus reminds us in Mark 12:33 that loving him with all our heart is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices. He desires hearts that are truly surrendered to him. Consider setting aside Sundays to fast from technology, creating space for your family to focus its affection on Jesus and enjoy meaningful Sabbath time together.
Technology isn’t going anywhere; it will only become more pervasive in every part of our lives. Our goal isn’t to raise kids who are afraid of the digital world, but instead to train them to be wise discerners who think biblically and critically about the information they encounter online. Ultimately, we want to lead our children to recognize how the good life is being portrayed online and understand how it compares with God’s good design for human flourishing. The stories they encounter online convince them that fulfillment comes from having more, looking a certain way, or earning others’ approval.
In God’s upside-down Kingdom, however, their identity is found in Christ alone, and true fulfillment comes from knowing and glorifying him.
As parents, we have the opportunity to help our children recognize the world of ideas competing for their hearts, and point them to the better story of God’s Kingdom. So the next time you find your family looking like that tech-absorbed family in the restaurant, pause and take some time to evaluate what those screens are truly conveying. Every screen is communicating a gospel, and we want to train our children to see everything, including technology, through the unchanging lens of the gospel.
By Danielle Smith
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