Why Christian Parents Should Monitor Their Kids’ Online Activities

With so much of our lives being online now – television, books, friends (even family) – restricting what your children are being exposed to is an increasingly difficult task. As we’re told in Proverbs 22:6… “Teach a youth about the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.” Hence, it’s important for Christian parents to defend their children from the ills they face online with reinforcement from the Scripture and parental control apps that are now available. The online world is dangerous for children in this day and age. Christian parents should be monitoring and restricting their kids’ online access for their own safety.

The Bible AND Parental Control

There are many dangers facing children online. Teaching kids the Bible is a great long-term strategy for building character, but simply citing Bible verses will not protect them from the immediate dangers they likely will encounter online. However, using Scripture in conjunction with parental control can. Tell your kids to… “trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding; think about Him in all your ways, and He will guide you on the right paths” (Prov. 3:5-6). Help them understand that your goal as a parent is to teach them how to remain safe online while also being in touch with Scripture in their daily lives. Here are some of the threats your kids may face online.

Cyberbullying

Cyberbullying is the evolution of simple schoolyard bullying, only it doesn’t stop when kids get home from school. It follows them home and is as damaging to kids as any physical bullying can be. As of 2016, 40% of schoolchildren have been a victim of cyberbullying. Matthew 5:39 may teach adults to turn the other cheek in similar circumstances, but cyberbullying is not something your children need to experience.

Predators

We must protect our kids from the growing number of amoral predators that use the internet to prey on naive children. One in five teens have received unwanted sexual solicitation online. Kids are often inclined to keep such distressing things to themselves, but we must remind them “God is our refuge and strength, a helper who is always found in times of trouble” (Ps. 46:1). Kids need to know they can come to us in times of “trouble” without fear.

Adult Content

Without any content filters, kids are open to everything the internet has to offer. Unfortunately, much of that content is unsuitable adult content. Pornography, gambling, and extreme violence are all prevalent on the unfiltered web, and will corrupt our children with impure thoughts should we let them. As Christian parents and teachers, it is our duty to protect our kids from temptation and inappropriate content. We want our children’s online experience to be as safe for them as possible. In light of the dangers out there, parental controls are a must for Christian parents.

Conclusion

We must be the guides by which our children navigate the world – both online and in real life. By using the Bible to guide our conversations on online safety and parental control apps to implement restrictions, we can lead our kids down the right path in accordance to the Word. An open conversation with your child on why you are monitoring their online activities is needed as this builds trust and helps educate them on dangers they can then avoid themselves in the future. Remind them of Proverbs 1:8-9… “Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction, and don’t reject your mother’s teaching, for they will be a garland of grace on your head and a gold chain around your neck.”

This article was provided by our friends at KidGuard because we believe it’s relevant to our users. KidGuard is an online service that enables parents to monitor and track their child’s cell phone usage. We were not paid or compensated for posting this article.