Screentime and Mental Health

All this week we’re looking at the recent Surgeon General’s warning on the Harms of Screen Use in the lives of our children and teenagers. If you’re a parent whose been wondering about the effects of screen time on your kids, I encourage you to pause and think about exercising your God-given responsibility to nurture your kids well by setting clear borders and boundaries on screen time. The advisory tells us that in teenagers there are clear mental health and behavioral concerns related to social media use. Higher screen time is linked to anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, and body image concerns. Researchers have found clear links to higher levels of family conflict, aggression, poor relationships with friends, and the use of tobacco, alcohol, and drugs. In addition, almost half of all teens have experienced cyber-bullying. Parents, our highest calling it to lead our kids into a vital relationship with Jesus Christ. Are you allowing screens to become an idol in your home?