The Social Media Trap - Kids and the Internet

 THE SOCIAL MEDIA TRAP

We live in an entertainment addicted world! 

The entertainment used to be found through television shows, then movies once they came along.  At first it appeared to be wholesome and innocent with shows teaching values such as Leave It To Beaver, Little House On The Prairie, and The Andy Griffith Show.

Preachers who used to strongly warn and preach against having a tv were ridiculed and ignored because what could be wrong with I Love Lucy?  Yet, look where the tv shows, movies, and now social media has digressed to today. 

Perhaps it was the Holy Ghost moving on those Holy Men of Old, warning against the dangers of where that ‘one eyed devil’ (as they used to call it) would spiral down to – from wholesome, value-filled shows to blatant lewdness and debauchery desensitizing the hearts and minds of the masses.

The Bible warns to ‘set no wicked thing before our eyes’ (Psalm 101:3) yet things that Christians used to blush about and turn their eyes away from are now watched on tv, movies, or social media platforms without flinching.  Sometimes, those things (sins) are even laughed at or condoned. 

The devil will make sin look pretty and justified.

Look at Disney and other cartoon makers.  Even when I was a child, Disney was not an innocent cute cartoon producer.  We think it was, but observe how much witchcraft, wizardry, and sorcery was promoted through their movies.  Then along came Bewitched and Harry Potter.  All these shows make witches, wizards, and warlocks (everything the Bible warns against) look innocent and good.  Yet, they are the complete opposite.

And no marvel; for satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
2 Corinthians 11:14

The devil is a master of deceit making evil look like it’s good and good look like it’s evil. 

Guard your heart and guard your eyes! 

 

SET A SCREEN TIME LIMIT

Too much screen time damages the brain and its proper development.

Parents used to have more control over screen time because television shut off at midnight and would not come back on again until 6 am.  More time was spent outside playing or reading a book. If they wanted to watch a cartoon or show, they had to come home to watch it.  There were only certain times through the day that ‘children’s shows’ were actually on for them to watch.   

But now, many children have a screen in their hand most of the day and night, unfortunately with unrestricted access to whatever they choose to set before their eyes.  (They need restricted access with parental controls for their protection)

Sadly, we, the adults, have started that road to their electronic addiction.  They get fussy as babies, what is the first thing many adults do?   Pull up a video and set it before them to watch to ‘keep them entertained.’

I have seen babies throw a fit when an adult won’t let them have their phone.  Rather than distracting the baby with something else or teaching them the value of rules and that no means no, we cater to them and give them the phone back.  Then we wonder why children do not think no means no and tantrums become more forceful as they grow older.

ELECTRONIC ADDICTION is real!

I’ve seen it bind both adults and children.  Screen time is a digital drug.

Technology is hyper-arousing and raises dopamine levels (the feel-good neurotransmitter most involved in the addiction dynamic) as much as drugs and other addictions.

Too much screen time damages the brain.

A study by John Hopkins All Children’s Hospital found that children (or adults) who are addicted to electronics will exhibit these signs:

·        Loss of control over behavior related to the cell phone or games

·        Changes in mood related to use

·        Tolerance of the device

·        Inability to regulate the use of the device (in other words: it controls them rather than they control it.)

·        This can also result in symptoms of withdrawal when the cell phone isn’t there, including anger or irritability, difficulty concentrating, repeated focus on not having the device, restlessness, sleep problems and craving of the device to the point that it interferes with the ability to complete things like schoolwork or daily living activities.

I’ll add this: if a child or adult has a melt down over not having access to their phone or other electronic device, they have an addiction problem that needs to be broken – for their good and their future.

Electronic addiction can negatively affect relationships with the people around us….

When we’re around other people yet we keep looking at our phone or game device, we are telling them that something else is more important than they are.  We are essentially rejecting the person or group of people we are with.  This can cause a strain on a relationship/a friendship which will eventually lead to a loss of it.

I have been at gatherings in a home where everyone sat and watched the tv, a tablet, or phone screen.  Hardly anyone was interacting or talking to each other.  We need to change this as a society – and it will need to start with each of us individually.  

There will always be something new to watch, see, or listen to because of all the social media apps available.

Learn to shut it off (self-control which is a fruit of the Spirit) and be present with those you are present with.

 

MORE DANGERS

There are many dangers with all these social media apps that are now available.   The adults know a few.  These kids know of many more that we’re not even aware exist.

Reading a book or play time allows a child to develop their imagination.  While tablets, social media, smart phones, video games do all the thinking for the child as the videos and games present the pictures for them.  It is found that it causes children to become lazy.

Social media can affect self-esteem and lead to depression, bullying, and even suicide.

The goal of many when they post something is to see how many “likes,”  words of affirmation, or “followers” they can get.  When that is not achieved, it can lead to depression or anxiety as the person comes up with another video or another picture to post in hopes that more will ‘like’ it this time.  

I’ve seen people so desperate to get the likes that they’ll reshare their own post after a span of time.  Or they’ll post more and more selfie pictures or videos to get attention.

The Surgeon General has warned that regular social media use can dangerously alter kid’s brain development.

The more time a person (adult or child) spends on social media, the more likely they are to develop:

·        Feelings of inadequacy about your life or appearance = this comes through comparing their life to the life of others through social media

·        Fear of missing out = social media addiction

·        Isolation = a person does not know how to interact outside of a screen

·        Depression and anxiety

·        Cyberbullying

·        Self-absorption = thinking only about self and what self wants

·        Distracted easily and mind is constantly drawn to the social media site

·        Disrupted sleep – lack of adequate restorative sleep

·        Exposing self or becoming the aggressor of: bullying or rumor spreading

·        Develop unrealistic view of other people’s lives (people try to present and post only the pretty perfect pictures and videos which are not the norm for them or their family.  And filters provide a fake appearance rather than what is truly reality)

·        Influenced by Peer pressure

·        It limits their direct contact with peers

·        Can lead to decreased attention spans

·        Sensory overload

·        Hyper-aroused nervous system

·        Causes them to be impulsive and moody

It can also subject a child or adult to:

·        Identity theft

·        Invasion of privacy

·        You or your child seeing offensive images and messages

·        The presence of strangers pretending to be a kid/teen who may be there to ‘groom’ your child

·        The exposure to uploaded videos by other kids or teens teaching and indoctrinating your children with thoughts and views that are contrary (opposite) to God’s Word and ways.

While these social media platforms can provide a place for your kids or teens to express themselves, it can also be a place where false messages and false beliefs can be easily and rapidly spread, received, and believed as truth.

The devil does not come as a red-horned creature with a pitchfork.  He comes through the posters on these social media platforms appearing to be a messenger of enlightenment to spread his doctrines of devils.

 

Tik Tok

·        There are frequent ‘Tik tok challenges’ popping up and enticing, even pressuring these kids to perform dangerous or ungodly actions to get likes and followers or shares or whatever else.  Children have died from attempting some of these challenges.

·        It is a popular place to post and find videos promoting and teaching (by other kids/teens) things that are ungodly.

·        Personal data, browsing history, location, and biometric identifiers could be shared with China’s authoritarian government. (and the reason why our own government has forbid its use by government employees)

·        The ‘dances’ and ‘dance moves’ learned from there are NOT godly

·        Inappropriate content <– I can’t stress this enough!!!

 

Snapchat

·        Very popular and most kids use it

·        Supposedly has fun filters  

·        Automatically hides information from parents

·        Has a secret pass-coded picture vault where kids can hide and lock away from parent’s view when they search their phone. (Kids, if you have this, I’m ratting you out –> for your good and your protection)

·        Parents do not have the ability to check for content coming in or going out

·        LOTS of INAPPROPRIATE behaviors posted on snapchat which desensitize kids and expose them to things they should not see

·        Parents can not monitor or filter information being seen

·        Broadcasts your child’s location within 10 feet

·        Most predators highly recommend snapchat to kids they’re chatting with

·        Snapchat is more addicting to teens/kids than parents can comprehend. (I’d say this is the same for tiktok)  Officer Gomez has seen kids lie, cheat, steal, trade things they shouldn’t just to spend a few minutes on snapchat (ADDICTION).  It changes who a child/teen once was into someone dark and rebellious.

Some may argue there are some good things on these platforms. However, as one parent said: the RISKS OUTWEIGH THE BENEFITS!  You can never take back what your child sees or hears or is exposed to on these sights. 

The minimum age requirement for these sites is 13 – yet many many children are on these sites at a much younger age. 
They lack the maturity to be able to handle social media properly – even at 13.

 

Instagram:

·        Kids, youth and adults can be exposed to bad things on any social media platform.   Search will pop up things these kids should not see. 

·        Instagram is mainly used to post pictures.  What pictures are they posting? Pictures of themself? Exposing them to predators?

·        Conversations, pictures and accounts can easily be hidden from parents.

·        Accounts can be set to private to hide what is posted

·        Fake accounts are created to harass and bully others

·        Amongst other things – the site is not being used for the good by many

·        Just because someone ‘follows’ you, does not mean that is good.  I’ve had to block ‘followers’ because I could tell they were not good accounts nor were they following for the right reasons. 

 

Fortnight:

·        Very addictive for kids and men

·        A police officer has been to several 911 calls because a kid had a melt down when they had to stop playing the game. 

·        What it is: a survival game where players fight against each other.  The goal is to combat the other players and be the last one standing.  (This teaches them to only think of themselves, not others; it teaches violence against others.  Both of which are contrary of how God’s Word teaches us to be: compassionate, thinking of others, etc)

 

YouTube & YouTube Kids

·        There’s inappropriate content all over the site

·        May contain violence or disturbing content in some videos

·        It may impede development

·        It can cause meltdowns

·        It can be addictive

·        May promote unsafe behavior

·        Your child is targeted by ads, ads, and more ads

·        It can affect sleep

·        Comments can be problematic

·        They have detected severe self-harm and bullying situations

 

 

Facebook

·        Unfortunately, this app is not safe for kids either.

·        My children were bullied through fb.

·        Inappropriate messages were sent to at least one of them by someone I knew yet I was not aware of it happening until my child revealed it as an adult.

·        Spam accounts can find a page from just a seemingly innocent shared post.  Suddenly, you see a stranger ‘liking’ some of your old posts.  Kids are not able to fully understand the dangers.

·        Senator Ed Markey (D) said this concerning fb and kids: “Facebook is like Big Tobacco, pushing a product that they know is harmful.” He also called its photo-sharing site “Insta-greed.”

Don’t think it won’t happen to your young’un’s.   The child you least expect it to happen to could be the one it happens most to….the addiction, the hiding of videos and pics, the watching of inappropriate content, the stalking by a predator. 

Kids: ‘Bee obedient’ to your parent/guardian. 

Don’t argue or fight them if they restrict screen time, delete and block certain apps, or check your phone regularly. They are doing what they’re supposed to be doing – protecting you. 

There are dangers you are too young to understand….until it’s too late.

If Jesus wouldn’t approve of a video you are watching – do NOT watch it

If Jesus wouldn’t approve of you recording a video of yourself doing something – do NOT record it

If Jesus wouldn’t approve of how you’re dressed for a picture you are going to post – do NOT take the picture

If you feel the need to hide it then you know you are doing wrong – don’t do it

Remember, even if your parent or grandparent or teacher does not see, Jesus still sees and He is the One we will all have to stand before and answer to one day.  Therefore, do what is right and guard your heart, your eyes, your ears and your mind from the dangers on the internet.

Parents/Grandparents: it is up to you to protect your children. 

You can do this by:

·        Setting up boundaries and screen time limits.

·        Install parental control apps (I’ve heard BARK is good?)

·        Enforce rules and issue restrictions when lines are crossed and rules are broken. 

·        Don’t give in when they cry and try to negotiate to keep their phones, etc.  They NEED to detox from it more then they or even you realize.

·        Parents have posted positive turn arounds after they were able to detox their children from their screen addictions – but it takes time, endurance, and patience.

·        Pray protection over their hearts and minds

 

The devil is after your children, your grandchildren. You are the umbrella to protect them from his attacks and tactics through prayer and God’s help.