Gospel Tech Workshop

It’s thoughtless. We don’t try to use it, digital tech is simply how we get life done. Yesterday I used six of the largest companies in the world without thinking about it. I Googled an address on my iPhone. Checked my Outlook. Updated Facebook & Instagram. Confirmed my latest Amazon purchase. The effortless nature of tech makes it hard to manage. This is why it’s so important to discuss tech use with our kids. In the words of author Greg McKeown: “If you don’t prioritize your life, someone else will.”

No, in America it’s an issue across age demographics. It’s true that a vast majority (84%) of teens have smart phones. It’s also true that 4 in 5 Americans (including adults) game and/or use social media. The average gamer is 33 years old.

The amount of time, as well as the type of tech, plays a role in our mental health. The average teen spends roughly eight hours a day on Drool Tech. Starting at two hours online a day a child’s risk of depression goes up 21% and at five hours a day of entertainment tech the likelihood of depression raises 66%. A high rate of stimulation, combined with gameplay designed to be habit forming, means escaping to the world of Drool Tech can be a “causal risk factor for poor mental health”. Liu and Liecthy found that individuals who are otherwise healthy can develop unhealthy mental health when Drool Tech is mismanaged or overused. In fact, researchers have found that screen time is directly related to mental health as a “risk factor for depression and suicide.”

Start by placing tech in public spaces (ie: no drool tech in the bedroom). There is no research or evidence that tech in the bedroom has any benefits. There are numerous studies showing the trouble that can come of independent tech use. The American Academy of Pediatrics states there should be three tech-free areas for young people and parents alike: -bedrooms - meal times - play time. Reduced sleep time has been linked to screen time and shorter periods of sleep are a risk factor for depression and suicide. They add that families should add a rule of no screen time one hour before bed.