Read the rest.The statistics have been published, the literature has widely circulated, the conversations continue, but the issue still doesn't seem to be addressed with due vigilance. I'm talking about teenagers with unrestricted access on their smartphones and tablets. I give a hearty "Amen!" to Russell Moore's recent tweet: "I am just stunned by parents who give their pre-teen children iPhones and iPads with unrestricted Internet access."We rightly claim that pornography is an addiction, but we don't seem to be challenging the dealers of this drug. Who are these dealers? Parents. Parents who foolishly give their teens (and pre-teens) free rein with their smartphones and by doing so have invited the world into their child's bedroom each night.Some of you might think I am being a bit extreme, but after wrapping up another summer of youth retreats, my eyes have been opened once again to this absolute foolishness (there's no softer way to put it). The things our youth post on social media prove many things, and one is parental absence in this sphere.
I have too many conversations with students addicted to porn and equally as many conversations with parents who don't have a clue what their children are doing on the Internet. Were it not for an all-powerful, reigning, and ruling God, I would worry even more about the effects of this negligence on the future of our culture, including the church. Therefore, here are six pieces of advice from a youth pastor who doesn't pretend to have parenting figured out.
One this topic, here is a great letter from a father to his son on receiving his first smart phone. This is good parenting.
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