By Kayla DeKraker
We know that screen time isn’t great for kids, but is it affecting them spiritually? One expert says yes.
In an interview on the “Granger Smith Podcast,” Clare Morell, author of The Tech Exit, revealed the physical and spiritual dangers of screen time.
“The amount of dopamine is incredibly addictive, so no screen time limit is ever enough,” Morell said. “I think any parent who has tried this approach will tell you that it’s a constant battle because the child always wants more, and it’s because the dopamine released from the interactive features of the screen — the notifications, the likes, the new tokens in the game — all of this is eliciting a response in the brain that makes a child want more and more and more.”
She shared that even a small amount of screen time is harmful because kids keep living in that world even after putting devices away.
“… even a short amount of time means even after the child is not on the screen or the app anymore, they will be living in that virtual world long after they leave it,” she said. “It creates such a strong craving, and so I want parents to put screens more in the category of a highly addictive drug.”
For most, this information isn’t new; many parents are aware of the dangers of screens and do what they can to limit them. But Morell says they pose spiritual risks as well.
“For Christian parents especially, I try to explain, like, the technology is not neutral. Even if you think you’re controlling the content on the screen or the time limits…the mode of the technology itself [is harmful] because of how highly individualized it is.”
She added, “Its entire purpose is for just constant entertainment and amusement. It communicates to a child that life is all about them.”
Screen time can encourage children to put their wants before anyone or anything else.
“As Christian parents, my greatest goals for my children is for them to love and know God and to love others…those are the two great commandments,” Morell emphasized.
Mark 12:30-31 says, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”
Morell added, “The nature of the technology itself just teaches kids that life is for entertainment; it’s for their own pleasure. It’s not for service to God or service to others, and it’s just an inherently self-centered technology.”
If you’re child struggles with a screen addiction, don’t lose hope. Morell encouraged, “It’s never too late to pivot and make a change.”
She suggests starting with a 30-day digital detox this summer. “That means no smartphones, no iPads or other tablets, no video games, no social media, and no TV (except for family movies),” Morell wrote.
“It’s never too late to reset your child’s relationship with screens,” she added. “And summer, with its warm weather, more options for outdoor activities, and for many no school-required screens, is the perfect time to begin.”
Parents can cut back and make positive changes today to limit screens and encourage a Godly and selfless lifestyle for their kids.
Read Next: Do You Know How Much Screen Time Is Appropriate for Your Child?
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