Internet Safety
Parenting in 2022 comes with many of the same challenges our parents navigated, but the internet and electronic devices have changed so quickly and drastically that I feel like we are in uncharted waters. Back in the 80’s, my mom was trying to decide how old I had to be to get my ears pierced. She can’t give me advice on the appropriate age for social media or internet safety because this is new territory.
The internet is a very big topic, and we will only scratch the surface in this post. There will be a lot of technology decisions you will need to customize for your family. Creating a safe online atmosphere in your home is where you can start. I want to connect families with helpful resources so they can avoid feeling overwhelmed. Being paralyzed by technology will not keep your loved ones safe.
“A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels: The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” (Ps. 1:5, 7)
There is zero satisfaction in telling someone, “I told you so,” when sin has devastated a home. It makes me angry when I don’t see a healthy fear of the internet. Parents that are too trusting of what their children will do online is sobering. With God’s help, it is our job to keep our families safe. (Did you know that something as innocent as the Fitbit app can give a stranger a way to communicate with your child?) We have to fight hard as parents to protect our children.
“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” (I Pet. 5:8)
One of the main conversations I have with other parents, besides Covid, is about the internet, devices, and usage. Abstinence is one strategy, but I prefer a healthy balance of using the internet for education, entertainment, communication, etc. We can use technology for good, but we must be aware of evil.
First, purpose in your heart to seek God’s guidance and wisdom in technology and parenting. Parents that don’t care enough to do their research or set up their internet with filters will suffer consequences for their apathy.
“If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” (Jam. 1:5)
Although we wear seatbelts in cars, it’s not a perfect solution to safety; its purpose is to keep us from harm if we are in an accident. The router in your home is like a seatbelt for our children when they are online.
I have followed a blog called Protect Young Eyes for a few years. They have done all the hard work when it comes to researching routers, apps, parental settings, popular devices, and more. They have helped me implement 3 ways which keep our home safer online.
#1 – Start with a router that can filter your internet. The Gryphon router is what we use in our home, church, and school. It’s affordable and very easy to set up and manage. HERE is a more in depth post about this router and how we use it effectively. The Gryphon router won’t be perfect, but if you take a little time to set it up and situate filters, you will have more peace of mind about your kids being online. You can also set up screen-time limits and a bedtime when their devices go offline.
#2 Subscribe to Protect Young Eyes to stay informed on new trends, apps, and devices. So many of the popular games and new apps are overtaken by strangers trying to hurt our children. Having the right privacy settings and being aware of danger is our job as parents. I can always count on this resource to help me stay up to date and ahead of the evil that lurks online. Follow their easy to understand blog and social media platforms and you will have superhero tech powers on your side.
#3 Add BARK to your internet safety plan. Bark is a paid service/app that monitors for digital dangers within texts, YouTube searches, emails, and 30+ social networks. Adding this layer to your protection plan can alert you to activity that may indicate online predators, adult content, sexting, cyberbullying, drug use, suicidal thoughts and more.
Social Media: We haven’t allowed any social media platforms for our kids just yet. #delayistheway is a popular hashtag and we support the idea. Our children are 14, 12, and 8. We haven’t even stated an age when they will have their own social media. We do allow them to text a small circle of friends, they play Xbox with approved friends, and our daughter has a Pinterest account. We keep an eye on who is in their contacts. BARK monitors the content of those conversations, but we also check from time to time to see what they are communicating. We don’t want to discourage them that we will violate their privacy, but it is our job to make sure we are helping them do right.
“And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.” (Eph. 6:4)
We are still finding the best balance of giving them privileges with devices, but making sure they are honoring the Lord with how they use this privilege. It’s never too soon to add BARK if your children are having any conversations with anyone via a device. If you have children with social media accounts, I would recommend you sign up for this service ASAP.
It’s a very dangerous place to think that bad things won’t happen to your family. Kids are being tempted with sins that I didn’t even know existed when I was their age. The resources to run away from home, change genders, view pornography, talk to strangers, obtain drugs, hurt themselves, and more are literally at their fingertips. Another aspect of the evil that lurks on the internet is the addiction that can develop to be online instead of living in real life.
Screentime: It’s ironic you have been asked to spend your time looking at a screen to hear about not having too much screentime. We need to keep our own hearts and minds safe. There are days that I’m ashamed of my internet usage and how I let myself get swept away in mindless scrolling. I have had to guard my heart and time with healthy boundaries. I think it’s a discipline we all need to work on as we seek to use technology in a way that glorifies God. We also must be an example to our children. Neither parents nor children are immune to the mental toll of too much time online. Praise the Lord that He wants to faithfully guide us to do better!
“It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.” (Lam. 3:22-23)
It breaks my heart that depression and suicide is at an all-time high. It’s sad that we need to have applications such as BARK to know if our kids are talking to strangers, telling a friend they want to hurt themselves, or plotting to run away. Satan is using the internet to steal our time, minds, and children. It’s subtle at times, but we are all susceptible to being swept into the ways of the world. However, we all have hope that God abides forever.
“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.” (I Jn. 2:15-17)
If you are overwhelmed by how to keep your children safe online, I beg you to implement these resources. Please ask God for wisdom and understanding to navigate the world of technology, balance online usage, and honor Him. We are all capable and equipped by God to live in this current tech age. Not only will God give us wisdom when we need it, but He will give us rest when it’s hard.
“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matt. 11:28-30)
Ginny Logan is serving the Lord with her family in northern California. She and her husband Josh are Maranatha Baptist University graduates and while they both studied Business Management, God called them to full-time Christian ministry in 2009. Ginny has been serving as church secretary and different office roles within Heritage Baptist Church and Academy (including tech support) since 2004. Her husband Josh left his family pool business and began working full time within the ministry in 2009. He is the administrator of their K-12th grade Christian school, teaches 5th/6th grade, handles the finances, and is the music leader in the church. Josh and Ginny have 3 children: Jack (14 years old), Annabelle (12 years old), and Charlie (8 years old). Their hearts are very burdened for California despite its restrictive mandates and their desire is to reach others for Christ.
