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Help Kids Evaluate High-Tech Trends Technology changes so quickly these days that it’s challenging to keep pace with all the hottest sites, devices, and fads. But the Internet, cell phones, and iPods have become such an integral part of youth culture that parents need to stay in touch with them in order to stay in touch with their kids. Two-thirds of America’s teenagers say, “Digital technology is an essential part of how I live.” Consider these developments: Social-networking sites have led to an explosion of interconnectedness. Blogs allow kids to reveal their innermost thoughts throughout cyberspace. Camera and video phones permit everything to be documented and posted for the whole world to see. Text-messaging is now the primary communication method for almost half (44%) of all teenagers. All this technology has significant impacts on impressionable, developing young people. Kids are expressing themselves more than ever, friends can almost always reach one another, and teenagers can access lots of inappropriate material. Despite some potential dangers, the Internet and high-tech tools are here to stay. So it’s up to parents to provide oversight and guidance. But you can take that one step further by helping your teenagers think critically about high-tech influences. When kids learn to evaluate technology and media from a Christian perspective, they can make wise decisions about what they   Text messaging (or “texting”) might be the most surprising cultural development of the last decade. Despite the tiny buttons, small screens, and cost involved, texting has flourished. Here’s why: 1. It’s convenient and inconspicuous. Texting lets kids be expressive even in situations where other forms of communication aren’t appropriate (classrooms, middle of the night, etc.). 2. It allows “micro-coordination.” Kids no longer have to plan their get-togethers; they can do it on the fly. Texting lets kids change last-minute details about where and when to meet. 3. It provides gratification. More than half of all text messages are “singles,” with no response. Researchers say texting allows kids to subtly re-establish their significance. 4. It fits into kids’ “hookup” culture. Technology has contributed to the obliteration of sexual boundaries. Underage kids, with the perception of anonymity, are now texting (or “sexting”) explicit photos of themselves, which spread quickly.   PulsePulsePulsePulsePulsePulsePulse Here’s an assortment of statistics about teenagers, who are often left to their own “devices”: 23% of teenagers report that they have felt “addicted” to video games. More than one-third of teenagers say they don’t drive as safely as they should because they’re using cell phones. 32% of teenage girls say they don't mind texting while driving Every iPod or digital music player contains an average of 842 illegally copied songs. At YouTube, Internet users post 10 hours of video every minute—the equivalent of 57,000 full-length movies every week.   Great Questions ...to Ask Your Kids  How often—and well—do you communicate with your kids about their communication methods? Get started by discussing these questions together: 1. What’s your favorite communication method, and why? How long could you go without using it? 2. Does technology simplify or complicate your life? Explain. Which device would you “uninvent,” and why? 3. What’s your favorite thing to do online? Is it easier to talk to friends in cyberspace? Why or why not? 4. Do you like being always reachable? Why or not? How open are your communication lines with God?   GOD AND YOUR FAMILY Pray that: 1. Your teenagers will make wise decisions about what they do online and with other technology.  2. God will strengthen your teenagers to resist harmful influences. 3. Your teenagers will evaluate cultural messages and seek to honor God in everything they do. 4. Your teenagers will be as eager to communicate with God as they are to communicate with their friends.   What’s Up With Kids In his book "Jesus-Centered Youth Ministry", Rick Lawrence discusses ways to teach your kids to “engage their culture, not adopt it or deny it.” Here’s an excerpt: Wake up. Engage in kids’ media influences firsthand. Find out what kids are into, and then Google their favorite shows, video games, and bands to find fan sites and reviews. Teach kids to think critically. Encourage them to “push back” against cultural influences. For example, have your teenagers list five positive and five negative things about a particular video game. Ask: “If you had your own kid, which of these things would you want (and not want) to teach them?” Then explore Philippians 4:8 together. Regularly force kids to solve problems that require critical thinking. These can be issues from the Bible, cultural debates, and relational problems. The key to making this work is asking many, many follow-up questions after kids give their first answers. Help kids slow down and think about “kingdom-of-God” truths. Teach your teenagers how to summarize and evaluate the overall message of each media influence. What truths or promises does it deliver, and are they something that Jesus honors? Soon, when kids are listening to their iPods or watching a movie with their friends, they’ll hear or see something that will flex their critical-thinking muscle—“Is this a Jesus truth or not?” When that happens, you’ll have helped plant a Jesus-centered way of living life in them.   VERSE OF THE MONTH “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.” (Romans 12:2) You can’t shelter kids from all of today’s high-tech influences. Even if you could, that wouldn’t necessarily be a good thing. God reminds his followers not to be “of” the world but acknowledges that we still remain “in” it. Christians can enjoy the benefits of new technology and be entertained by secular music and movies. But we must view everything through the eyes of faith. Who knows? Your kids might be able to share Christ with others using a high-tech communication method.   FilmWatch Movie: The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2  Genre: Drama Rating: PG-13 (for mature material and sensuality) Synopsis: This sequel continues the story of four lifelong friends (Alexis Bledel, America Ferrera, Blake Lively, and Amber Tamblyn) as they begin college. The young women go their separate ways but stay in touch, sharing experiences with humor and honesty. As the women discover more about themselves through choices they make while on their own, they still cherish their bond of friendship. Discussion Questions: What’s your definition of a good friend? Are you able to tell your friends anything? Do your friends help make you a better person? What are some ways to keep friendships going strong, despite obstacles such as distance?