Does having a smartphone during childhood make a child “safer” when they are outdoors? Is having access to a flashlight, GPS, and a phone to call 911 an essential addition to a child’s outdoor play? What are the downsides or detriments to having a smartphone while playing outdoors? Will children play outdoors as much if they have a smartphone?

In today’s episode, Kelly evaluates this claimed benefit from both Dr. Peter Gray’s perspective and historical and biblical perspectives.

Articles referenced:

Helping Kids (and Ourselves) Use Smartphones Safely
Why Did Teen Suicides (Especially for Boys) Decline Sharply from 1990 to 2005?
The Age Four Transition into Responsible Childhood
The Many Benefits of Video Games
Risky Play: Why Children Seek it and Need it

Scripture referenced:

Psalm 119:89
1 Thessalonians 5:21
Matthew 5:45
Proverbs 22:3
1 Corinthians 6:12
Romans 5:3-4

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Many tech advocates and secular experts believe and promote the idea that children should have their own smartphones. They tout the benefits of self-expression (Ep. 212), education, and outdoor safety. Are these benefits really beneficial? Or, are they just convenient? Because Brave Parenting recommends delaying smartphones until age 16, there’s a full decade gap between their recommendations and ours.

This episode is the INTRODUCTION to a series of 10 podcasts evaluating whether the claimed benefits are beneficial from a biblical and discipleship standpoint. While there are many voices promoting that kids have their own smartphones, Kelly will evaluate the list published by Dr. Peter Gray in his Play Makes Us Human Substack titled “Helping Kids (and Ourselves) Use Smartphones Safely.” In this article, he lists “9 Benefits for Kids of Smartphone Ownership.”

Today, we’ll cover how the secular world aims to desensitize kids to online content, the background and beliefs of Dr. Peter Gray, and his views on the potential risks or harms of smartphone ownership. Kelly evaluates each potential harm so that we can all begin to think biblically (rather than “scientifically”) about what smartphones do to children. Ultimately, it is about understanding that what “experts” and “scientists” conclude will always be skewed because they do not see humans as Image-bearers who are with sinful hearts.

Articles referenced:

Helping Kids (and Ourselves) Use Smartphones Safely
Children Should be Outside for 4-6 Hours Every Day

Scripture referenced:

Psalm 19:1-3
Galatians 5:16-17
James 1:14-15, 12

Book a Speaking Event!!

Buy the NEWLY UPDATED book: Managing Media Creating Character (2024 Revised & Updated)

Get Kelly’s new Study Guide & Workbook, with video teachings for small groups.

Check out our brand new Brave Parenting Merch

Sign up for the Brave Bullet Points newsletter! This helps us communicate what’s happening without social media – a win for everyone!

The verdict of the landmark social media addiction/harms trial came back GUILTY. For more than a decade, those who spoke out against social media and its harm to children were accused of “moral panic.” While there was always an urgency to warn others, it was never fear or panic. But the persuasive and personalized design features embedded in social media platforms remain a moral problem in our society. Now, finally, we are starting to see some moral accountability.

Articles referenced:

What did jury decide in social media case against Meta and Google?
Jury Finds Instagram and YouTube Liable in a Landmark Social Media Addiction Trial
What is tech addiction? A court ruling makes it Big Tech’s next big problem

Scripture referenced:

Ezekiel 14:3
Ecclesiastes 1:9
1 John 2:15-17
Colossians 3:5
Proverbs 4:23
Romans 12:2
John 8:44
John 10:10

Book a Speaking Event!!

Buy the NEWLY UPDATED book: Managing Media Creating Character (2024 Revised & Updated)

Get Kelly’s new Study Guide & Workbook, with video teachings for small groups.

Check out our brand new Brave Parenting Merch

Sign up for the Brave Bullet Points newsletter! This helps us communicate what’s happening without social media – a win for everyone!