The query of whether Christians should seek a ban on social media for teenagers under 16 is one which demands serious reflection. As believers, we’re called to be salt and light-weight on this planet (Matthew 5:13-16), protecting the innocent and standing against forces that cause harm. Today, social media has develop into certainly one of the best threats to the mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being of our kids. The evidence is evident, and scripture offers a compelling framework for why we must act. The answer is an unequivocal yes: Christians should advocate for a ban on social media for teenagers under 16.
The Biblical Mandate to Protect Children
Jesus’ words in Matthew 18:6 are stark and sobering: “If anyone causes certainly one of these little ones—those that imagine in me—to stumble, it might be higher for them to have a big millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned within the depths of the ocean.” This scripture underscores the seriousness of our responsibility to guard children from obstacles, and social media is undeniably some of the pervasive obstacles of our time.
The algorithms driving platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat prey on the insecurities of young users, exposing them to harmful content that promotes unrealistic beauty standards, consumerism, and even explicit material. The apostle Paul reminds us in Philippians 4:8 to concentrate on things which can be “true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable.” Yet, social media bombards children with the alternative, resulting in anxiety, depression, and a distorted sense of self-worth.
The Impact on Mental and Spiritual Health
Social media’s detrimental impact on young minds is well-documented. According to the CDC, 57% of teenybopper girls and 29% of teenybopper boys reported persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness in 2023. Social media’s role in amplifying these feelings can’t be ignored. Platforms are designed to take advantage of vulnerabilities, creating an addiction to likes, comments, and shares. Proverbs 4:23 warns, “Above all else, guard your heart, for every part you do flows from it.” When children’s hearts and minds are exposed to harmful influences, their entire lives are affected.
Moreover, the spiritual harm is equally alarming. Social media often promotes values antithetical to Christian teachings. It fosters envy, pride, and an unhealthy concentrate on self-promotion. Galatians 5:19-21 lists the acts of the flesh, warning that “those that live like this can not inherit the dominion of God.” How can we, as Christians, stand by while our kids are inundated with content that pulls them farther from God?
The Role of Parents and Community
Some argue that banning social media for teenagers under 16 infringes on parental rights or personal freedom. However, scripture teaches that freedom should be balanced with responsibility. Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 10:23, “I even have the proper to do anything,” you say—but not every part is useful. “I even have the proper to do anything—but not every part is constructive.” Allowing children unrestricted access to social media is neither helpful nor constructive. As parents and a faith community, we’re called to guide and protect the subsequent generation.
Proverbs 22:6 advises, “Train up a baby in the way in which he should go, and when he’s old he is not going to depart from it.” Yet, how can we train up our kids once they are being discipled day by day by social media influencers? The web’s grip on their attention and values is commonly stronger than that of their families or church communities. By advocating for a ban, we create a protective boundary that enables parents and faith leaders to reclaim their God-given role as the first shapers of a baby’s worldview.
The Precedent for Legislative Action
The Bible provides quite a few examples of God’s people advocating for justice and righteousness through laws and governance. Proverbs 31:8-9 exhorts us to “speak up for individuals who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who’re destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.” Children, as some of the vulnerable groups in society, fall squarely into this category.
Legislation is a robust tool to guard children. Countries like Australia and the UK have already implemented measures to limit social media access for minors. These efforts align with biblical principles of stewardship and accountability. Romans 13:1-4 reminds us that governing authorities are established by God to uphold good and punish wrongdoing. Advocating for laws that protect children from the harms of social media is an extension of this principle.
5 Legislative Steps Rooted in Biblical Principles
- Secure Age Verification: Social media platforms must block accounts for anyone under 16 using effective and secure age verification methods. This aligns with the principle of guarding our kids’s hearts (Proverbs 4:23) by making a barrier to harmful influences.
- FTC Oversight: The Federal Trade Commission should oversee compliance, with fines for non-compliant platforms. Accountability is a biblical principle, as seen in Luke 12:48: “To whom much is given, much will probably be required.” Companies taking advantage of children’s exploitation should be held to the next standard.
- Parental Tools: Platforms must provide tools for fogeys to observe their children’s online activities. This supports the biblical mandate for fogeys to coach their children in righteousness (Proverbs 22:6).
- National Campaign: A nationwide campaign to coach families about social media risks fulfills the decision in Hosea 4:6: “My persons are destroyed for lack of understanding.” Equipping parents and kids with knowledge is a critical step in protecting them. In my latest book The Naked Truth I explore how shocked I’m at how little parents learn about their kid’s access to sexual confusion and perversion.
- Annual Reviews: Congress should require periodic reviews to adapt to emerging technologies. Ecclesiastes 3:1 reminds us that “To every part there’s a season,” and laws must evolve to fulfill latest challenges.
Responding to Objections
Critics may argue that such measures are impractical or infringe on personal freedoms. But as Christians, we must prioritize what is correct over what is straightforward. Galatians 6:9 encourages us, “Let us not develop into weary in doing good, for at the correct time we’ll reap a harvest if we don’t quit.” Advocating for this ban is an act of doing good, one that may yield a harvest of healthier, spiritually grounded children, not only Christian children but ALL children.
Another common objection is that oldsters should bear sole responsibility for monitoring their children’s social media use. While parental responsibility is crucial, we cannot ignore the fact that many parents are overwhelmed or unaware of the hazards. Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 teaches us that “two are higher than one… If either of them falls down, one may also help the opposite up.” Communities, governments, and faith leaders must work together to support families on this effort.
A Call to Action
As Christians, we’re called to be proactive in defending the vulnerable. James 1:27 defines pure religion as taking care of orphans and widows of their distress and keeping oneself from being polluted by the world. Today’s children are spiritual orphans within the digital wilderness, and it’s our duty to guide and protect them. How do we are saying we walk in God’s love and be silent in offering our help and solutions after we know they work.
When my son was in college, he and I and my husband decided to do a social media and TV fast for per week. We agreed we might not watch or hearken to anything that was not pure and Godly. We agreed on no social media and that only family conversations and Jesus would dominate our week. The result. My son dove radically into his faith and lead a revival on his University of Kansas college where he played basketball for Bill Self. Our lives modified endlessly as we opened our home to 1000’s of faculty kids who desired to know more about God over the subsequent 4 years. My love of teaching the word to those young people, alongside my husband, birthed my ministry today. There aren’t any words for what an easy ban from social media, and polluted media and music, did for our destinies.
We decided it was vital to:
- Pray for wisdom and courage for lawmakers, parents, and advocates.
- Educate ourselves and others in regards to the harms of social media and unrestricted media typically.
- Contact our representatives to demand legislative motion. Something I even have begun the fight for just this yr and I’m greatly encouraged by the brand new ban in Australia and the protective guide rails implemented within the U.K.
- Support organizations and campaigns advocating for stricter regulations. Anyone fighting this battle can feel alone and exhausted. Your support, encouragement, prayers, and donations fuel the energy needed to proceed until we get a Victory for all God’s precious children who’re learning far an excessive amount of far too soon. It is insane to think we will be silent any longer. Our silence, or inaction, is our acceptance of allowing a culture lost in sin to shape the minds of our future
Social media has develop into a battleground for the hearts and minds of our kids. As Christians, we cannot stand by while their innocence is eroded, their mental health is compromised, and their spiritual growth is stunted. Scripture calls us to act boldly, to guard the least of those, and to advocate for righteousness in every sphere of life.
A ban on social media for teenagers under 16 is just not only a legislative issue; it’s an ethical imperative rooted in our faith. Together, with God’s guidance, we will create a safer, healthier, and more hopeful future for the subsequent generation.
Photo Credit: Arpad Czapp/Unsplash
Cynthia Garrett broke barriers when she became the primary African American woman within the U.S. to host a network late-night show, NBC’s Later with Cynthia Garrett. She is currently seen on TBN and Salem Media networks, in addition to on Fox News and other news outlets, addressing cultural issues and today’s news. The Cynthia Garrett Podcasts premiere weekly on all major podcast platforms.
A highly sought-after speaker, creator, TV host, and ordained minister, Garrett is the creator of The Naked Truth: Reclaiming Sexual Freedom in a Culture of Lies (2024), I Choose Victory: Moving from Victim to Victor (2020), and Prodigal Daughter: A Journey Home to Identity (2016). For more information, visit www.cynthiagarrett.org
