Submission by Joseph Menslage
Parents today face a challenge unlike any in history. Social media is no longer just a tool—it has become a culture, shaping how children think, act, and see themselves. As Christians, we cannot ignore its influence.
Romans 12:2 reminds us, “Be not conformed to this world,” yet social media has become one of the most powerful forces conforming hearts and minds.
This is a call for parents to act.
Every day, children are exposed to messages that undermine biblical truth. What used to be filtered at home now comes uninvited through a glowing screen. Proverbs 4:23 tells us, “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” If we are to guard our children’s hearts, we must protect them from a system that profits from pride, comparison, and temptation. As Dr. James Dobson once said, “If we don’t teach our children who they are in Christ, the world will teach them everything they are not.”
Social media is not only corrupting innocence—it is weakening families. Time once spent talking, praying, and laughing together is lost to scrolling. Parents and children alike can fall into the trap of chasing approval online instead of nurturing real connection at home. God created families to be places of discipleship and love, not distraction.
The solution is clear: parents must lead the way in stepping back from social media. Joshua 24:15 says, “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” That declaration must shape the choices we make every day. For some, this will mean setting boundaries and limits. For others, it may mean removing social media entirely from the home. It takes courage to resist the cultural current, but our children’s souls are worth it.
Choosing this path will not be easy. Your children may resist. Friends or relatives may question your decision. But Jesus told us in John 15:18, “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.” Our responsibility is not to please culture but to honor Christ and protect the families He entrusted to us.
Parents, hear this clearly: you are the shepherds of your home. Wolves do not always arrive with snarls and threats. Sometimes they arrive as bright apps and endless notifications. To protect your children, you must be willing to draw the line.
The good news is that stepping away from social media does not limit life—it restores it. Without constant comparison, children learn joy in who God created them to be. Without distraction, parents and children rediscover conversation, prayer, and laughter. Without the world’s noise, families can hear God’s voice more clearly. John 8:36 assures us, “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”
Now is the time for parents to act. Reclaim your dinner tables. Protect your children’s hearts. Put Christ back at the center of your home. Social media will not raise your children—you must.
Prayer
Lord, give us wisdom and courage as parents. Help us guard our homes from influences that draw us away from You. Strengthen us to lead our families with conviction and love, so that our children grow in truth, faith, and freedom. May our homes always declare: “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Scripture to Remember
“Train up a child in the way he should go; and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” — Proverbs 22:6
