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Giveaway closes: Saturday, June 20, 2026

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How do Christian parents raise kids who love Jesus in a world filled with smartphones, social media, pornography, and artificial intelligence?

In Part 2 of this powerful conversation, Stephanie sits down with Chris McKenna, founder of Protect Young Eyes and author of 5 Habits for the Tech-Wise Family, to discuss practical, biblical strategies for protecting children's hearts and minds in today's digital culture.

Rather than parenting from fear, Chris encourages families to lead with relationship, intentionality, and clear family values. Together, they explore why technology is not merely a personal preference issue but a discipleship issue that affects the spiritual, emotional, and relational health of the entire family.

If you've ever wondered when to give your child a phone, how to talk about pornography, what role the church should play in digital discipleship, or how AI is changing the challenges facing families, this conversation will equip and encourage you.

In This Episode

• Why every internet-connected device deserves thoughtful boundaries
• How to identify and protect the most vulnerable person in your home
• The surprising places children are exposed to harmful content
• A practical analogy for teaching young children about pornography and online dangers
• Why preparation matters more than panic
• The role grandparents, churches, and Christian communities play in protecting children
• Why chores, responsibility, and real-world skills help build resilient kids
• Practical guidance for introducing technology slowly and intentionally
• What to do if you feel you've already given your child too much access
• The growing concerns surrounding AI companions and artificial intelligence
• How to maintain strong relationships with your children while setting healthy boundaries
• Why "delay is the way" when it comes to smartphones and social media

Key Takeaways for Christian Moms

• Digital safety begins with parental modeling.
• Family technology rules should protect the most vulnerable member of the household.
• Children need ongoing training and practice, not just one difficult conversation.
• Technology decisions should reflect biblical convictions and family values.
• AI requires the same intentional conversations many parents now have about pornography and social media.
• Healthy childhood development depends on meaningful work, relationships, responsibility, and real-world experiences.

Resources Mentioned

• 5 Habits for the Tech-Wise Family by Chris McKenna
• Protect Young Eyes
• The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt

Connect with Entrusted Ministries

Entrusted Ministries exists to help busy moms faithfully read the Bible, grow in prayer, and disciple their families through God's Word.

If this episode encouraged you, please:

• Follow the podcast

• Leave a review on Apple Podcasts

• Share this episode with a friend, parent, grandparent, or church leader

Together, let's help the next generation walk wisely, think biblically, and follow Christ faithfully in a digital world.

This is the Again podcast where we believe that what you do

2

over and over really matters to God.

3

I'm Stephanie Hickox, and this is

brought to you by Entrusted Ministries.

4

And if you're able to listen to this

podcast, then one of your against

5

is probably managing devices and

technology For you and for your family.

6

You're gonna be so blessed by the wisdom

and leadership of Chris McKenna, creator

7

and CEO of Protect Young Eyes, and author

of Five Habits of the Tech Ready Family:

8

Raising Wise Kids in a Wild Digital World.

9

It's set to release on June

16th, but I got a sneak peek

10

and read it cover to cover.

11

I've got most of it highlighted and

underlined, and I'm ready to take action.

12

I feel equipped and inspired rather

than overwhelmed, and that's exactly

13

what I want for you because this area of

digital safety is not one we can ignore.

14

Chris and I talked about why

it's so important to protect our

15

kids and a little bit of the how.

16

And I really want you to get your hands

on this book, So we're having a giveaway.

17

You can find all the

details in our show notes.

18

And I'm also gonna throw in our Entrusted

book that comes with our entire video

19

series for individuals or for couples

20

Best of luck.

21

Let's get to it

22

Chris: I don't want junk from the

internet to come into our home.

23

Going back to our family values,

here are some of the reasons why.

24

And that, I think, I've-- in

my experience, starts to build

25

some of that digital trust with

our kids when they know why.

26

It's not just a kid issue.

27

This is a family issue that is for all

of us, and not just because we think

28

you're gonna make a mistake online.

29

Steph: Right.

30

And it is such a call for us.

31

I think all of us are gonna be convicted

by that first habit of modeling, our

32

behaviors, and you give a great checklist,

as you said, of here's just some ideas,

33

that maybe you could adjust and then

you talk a lot about how we're gonna

34

protect the most vulnerable person

in our home, and so the guidelines we

35

set up are something we're all gonna

commit to for the good of the family.

36

As parents, we're so used to being,

"Oh, well, there's a standard for

37

parents, there's a standard for

children," but would you talk a

38

little bit more about your reasoning

about why we need to be modeling and

39

engaging in what would protect them?

40

Chris: Yes, and that you're right.

41

L- in, in a legal sense,

there are different standards

42

between minors and adults.

43

Most of the world is built on that

model, whether it's for certain

44

substances or alcohol or driving

or voting or whatever it might be.

45

Driving's a little different

'cause that has an age of 16.

46

But we have these lines where there

are different rules for different ages

47

When it comes to our homes, though, we

have to recognize that every single thing

48

that connects to the internet has the

possibility of connecting to Pornhub,

49

has the possibility of connecting

to videos that show beheadings and

50

horrible violence, have the possibility

of showing our children a whole

51

range of things that are too mature.

52

It's not just pornography.

53

I think we're doing a pretty

good job as society of

54

recognizing that that's an issue.

55

There's a whole list of things

maturity-wise, adult-wise, that

56

I just don't need my kids asking

questions about quite yet.

57

So with that in mind, right, it's

not like, you know, if you had a

58

set of encyclopedias in the house--

I just said a word that somebody

59

like, "What's an encyclopedia?"

60

Do you say Wikipedia?

61

No, encyclopedia.

62

These books that we used

to have in our home.

63

You didn't have to necessarily

have a lock on them, because

64

what's the worst that could happen?

65

You maybe saw a little bit of nudity

or you saw a word or two you shouldn't,

66

but that thing full of information

that was intended for adults and

67

children had content in it that wasn't

going to cause me to need therapy.

68

We have now allowed into our home

devices that are connected to a

69

hundred million people and a hundred

million choices every single day.

70

Every smart TV, even treadmills

that have internet on them,

71

your smartwatch, everything.

72

Think of how many things in your

home are connected to the internet.

73

All right, so with that as context, we

have to ask the question: Who is the

74

most vulnerable person in our home?

75

And then compare that to the

list of things connected to

76

the internet, and could any of

those things harm that person?

77

And I use the word vulnerable

because in my home, that's not the

78

youngest person in my house, right?

79

My 16-year-old son, Grant, who has Down

syndrome, who has the curiosities and

80

the drive of a 16-year-old, has the

executive function of a kindergartner

81

and the stopping cues of a kindergartner.

82

His curiosity and just impulsivity

can be so easily weaponized by

83

a bright flashing screen that I

have to make sure that nothing in

84

the home does no damage to Grant.

85

He's the most vulnerable brain and

heart in our home in some ways.

86

And we ask that question then for

different kids in different ways.

87

But that's why, you know, when our kids

go to other homes, I'll use grandma

88

and grandpa's house as an example.

89

Grandmas and grandpas don't often think

about having a filter on their devices,

90

but I want every grandparent listening

to this to ask, "Would everything

91

connected to the internet in my home

do no harm to any of my grandchildren?"

92

Steph: Mm-hmm.

93

Chris: These are the kinds of

questions that we need to ask

94

because there's so much power.

95

You know, we've gotten so used

to carrying around a smartphone.

96

Steph: Mm-hmm.

97

Chris: But we step back and really

think about the insane amount

98

of power that this thing has,

99

Steph: Right

100

Chris: I think we would see it differently

and treat it differently, especially

101

with young children in the home.

102

Steph: Yes.

103

you talk about the different places

where they're most vulnerable, and

104

on the bus, in the bedroom, in the

bathroom, at grandparents' home.

105

It really does just make you think.

106

even you said that 44% of children

with a school-issued computer

107

have accessed a pornographic image

108

Chris: That's

109

Steph: the school computer.

110

We just can't assume that

they're safe anywhere.

111

this mandate before the Lord to disciple

and protect our kids, it goes everywhere,

112

and we need to be considering that.

113

And you're right, even walking

outside, But I appreciate that you,

114

you go back to the relationship,

because you can't protect them from

115

every circumstance or encounter, but

you can prepare them for everything.

116

and you can do it from a

place of, "Because I love you,

117

I'm training you in this."

118

And your guides at the back are amazing,

too, of how would you talk about

119

pornography, even with a five-year-old.

120

If you were gonna walk on a path,

I would teach you about how to,

121

protect yourself from danger.

122

Will you share that analogy with us

and how you relate it to pornography?

123

Chris: Sure.

124

And it comes from a conversation I had.

125

There was a dad who approached me after a

talk that I did at a local school, and he

126

was curious about his son using an iPad

and what conversations should look like.

127

And I'm a bit of an outdoor guy.

128

I love to adventure and hike.

129

And in the same way that if I was

sending my son out-- Actually, this

130

act- this happened where my son wanted

to explore some nearby property, and I

131

knew the man who owned that property.

132

He's a farmer here that lives near us.

133

He has 140 acres around us.

134

And so I contacted this farmer first

just to get his permission, and then

135

what happened was my son and I then

went and traveled kind of the path

136

and scoped it out sort of together.

137

"Oh, yep, okay, there's

a cliff over there.

138

There's barbed wire over here,"

and kind of mapped out what that

139

property looked like, and that

was my way of preparing him.

140

And now he just goes and wanders around

there all the time, whenever he wants.

141

In fact, he brought home a raccoon

skull the other day because he

142

found that while hiking around.

143

Great.

144

Just a random skull in the garage.

145

But the, the way, right, that you

connect that to what we were just talking

146

about with pornography is, yeah, that's

right, there are going to be pitfalls.

147

There are going to be dangers.

148

There are going to be images

that our kids will bump into,

149

even on school-issued devices.

150

Have we actually sat down

and not just talked about it?

151

That's the part that gets missed,

is we have to practice doing these

152

things in the same way that maybe

they have piano lessons, and so they

153

practice a piece, or they're a dancer,

and they practice that routine.

154

These are the ways that we get stuff

from feeling good to thinking about

155

them in the front of our brain, that

it's muscle memory, uh, you know, by

156

doing it over and over and over again.

157

So yeah, preparing the path, thinking

about that adventure, but knowing that

158

now with devices, have our kids received

that same kind of instruction from us?

159

And that was just a helpful way for

this one dad to go, "Okay, yeah.

160

Now I can use that with my son

because he likes to be outside,"

161

and that was a helpful way for him.

162

And what's great about that, Stephanie, is

at a certain age, young, in this case, I

163

think his son was five or six, you don't

have to even use the word pornography,

164

Steph: Mm-hmm.

165

Chris: and yet you've prepared your

son or daughter to know what to do

166

when they see, whether it's images they

don't understand, people that are naked.

167

I'm sure we've had a conversation

about private parts by age

168

five, at least I hope so.

169

These are ways that we can prepare them

without maybe saying a word that your

170

son or daughter might not be ready for.

171

Steph: Mm-hmm.

172

am so thankful that your section on

where is the church, because this

173

is something I just wrestle with.

174

Entrusted, really stress the importance

of standing strong in biblical conviction,

175

but, respecting personal convictions.

176

But it almost feels like the church

is treating technology like a personal

177

conviction when I think there are

so many aspects of it that are

178

biblical convictions that, I mean,

there's just not gray area on what

179

you would allow your children to see

or how you would protect your child.

180

why do you think that the

church isn't raising the flag

181

and addressing this head-on?

182

Chris: Well, that's a question that

I hope when releasing this book and

183

having more conversations that I

get to ask and to learn more about.

184

I've been pretty forthright.

185

In fact, in front of about 1,000

pastors at a conference last year,

186

I pretty much called them out and

said, "Listen, I think about one

187

sermon a month should be begging your

families not to introduce this darkness

188

into the lives of their children."

189

Right?

190

I mean, if their role as a pastor

is the shepherd of a flock, I mean,

191

imagine all the sheep carrying around

little wolves in their pockets.

192

Would we be okay with that?

193

Like, I just, I don't know if it's

a messy combination of they're also

194

using it or they don't understand

it, or they maybe haven't…

195

I don't know that that's true.

196

I was gonna say maybe haven't

seen some of the harms.

197

I'm sure their offices have been populated

with families who have had kids who

198

have struggled with pornography, but

199

Steph: Угу

200

Chris: maybe it's just

a "I don't know how.

201

I don't know how to

have this conversation.

202

I don't know how to not be condemning."

203

And I-- So I hope maybe my book

gives them a framework to work from.

204

I mean, there's five habits that turn

into five sermons pretty quick, so

205

there you go pastors and ministry

leaders listening to this, whether

206

it's a small group study, it, you

know, works itself nicely into that.

207

And those are layers that not only

do I have five habits and five layers

208

of protection, but there are layers

in society, Stephanie, that also are

209

responsible for protecting our children.

210

It starts in the home, but

places of worship, right?

211

I know it's Christians listening to

this, but I just had a presentation

212

this past weekend with a Jewish

community over in Canada, right?

213

Places of worship need

to be owning this issue.

214

That is a layer in society that even

Jonathan Haidt talks about at great

215

length in one of the chapters of "The

Anxious Generation," which is so critical.

216

In addition to governments, in addition

to schools, in addition to companies

217

doing their job, these layers in

society are all failing at some level.

218

But I say this, as often as I can,

I love the work that Jonathan Haidt

219

and "The Anxious Generation" has

done for the church through his book,

220

even through a secular worldview.

221

And I've spent time with Jonathan.

222

I've been to the World

Economic Forum with him.

223

He's a fabulous individual.

224

In a time where he could be downshifting

and enjoying retirement because he's

225

already achieved monstrous success,

he is pressing ahead and honestly

226

doing the work of the church.

227

I've said many times, I feel like

"The Anxious Generation" should

228

have been our book to write.

229

The church should have written that book.

230

It took an amazing

secular humanist named Dr.

231

Jonathan Haidt to do our job Now,

all truth, Philippians tells us, all

232

truth is truth, is God's truth, and

it can be used in a number of ways.

233

But we let that responsibility

go, and that's on us.

234

And so I don't know what it'll take.

235

I don't know all the reasons why.

236

There's probably a book

to be written about that.

237

Steph: Sure.

238

Right.

239

Chris: just see what's happening, and

that is not enough pastors are putting

240

programs in place, having conversations,

and begging their families to delay

241

as long as possible these technologies

242

Steph: That's incredibly convicting.

243

If it were just the issue of time alone

and the time this is robbing families

244

of building relationships, that to me

is one of the most concerning aspects.

245

It's that we're no longer pursuing

the best in our homes or in our

246

churches, the level of distraction

and how we're letting our minds

247

and our attention spans be robbed.

248

I mean, entering into worship,

entering into a sermon, now you're

249

constantly distracted, and you can

pull out the device if you want

250

to if there's a lull in a sermon.

251

if we're trying to protect the

developing minds of our kids, and we

252

can see our, how it's impacting us…

253

Chris: Yeah

254

Steph: I realize how when you're in the

addiction, when you're in the struggle,

255

and most of us have to admit, it's

happening to me too, and I'm not exactly

256

where I wanna be in managing all of it,

but if we can recognize, this is affecting

257

us spiritually, emotionally, physically,

relationally, and, and then it doesn't

258

even just have to be the pornography talk.

259

It's so many layers of

260

Chris: It is

261

Steph: our homes and protecting our kids.

262

a lot of this is pursuing the best and

giving our kids that best childhood.

263

So I appreciate that one of the habits

that you said was that work and play.

264

And, our generation, it almost

seems like we're making it as

265

hard for parents as possible, but

as easy for kids as it could be.

266

And even your discussion on the

importance of chores was a really good

267

thing for us to think about, because

if our kids are spending so much time

268

on devices, how are they learning

real-world skills or how are they

269

becoming part of our family and helping?

270

Chris: And I have to give a lot of credit

to my, uh, good friend Melissa Griffin,

271

who is globally known as the HR Mom.

272

She was an executive in human resources

for many years, was watching interviewees,

273

candidates show up completely

unprepared with some of these skills.

274

And so she left that and now runs this

equipping organization for families.

275

And that's her number one

thing, start with chores.

276

You start with chores, you help them

feel like they have significance.

277

They're part of a unit, your family,

that their contribution matters.

278

That's trying to build a little bit

of that slower dopamine of executive

279

function and seeing progress over time.

280

And not everything runs on a seven-second

TikTok dopamine loop in life.

281

Most things that are meaningful,

like a good job and a project

282

and marriage and relationships

and parenthood, that takes time.

283

And there's fruit eventually, but you

have to have some patience to get there.

284

So give a lot of credit.

285

I interviewed-- And I've known Melissa for

years, but she was gracious to allow me

286

to carry some of her content then into the

book and to point out its significance,

287

because in a digital world, we have to

anchor them in some of these real world

288

activities to lead to resilient adulthood.

289

I mean, that's what it's all about.

290

Steph: Right.

291

And as you're mentioning that you actually

know her and her research, when you

292

recommend a device, you say that you've

actually met the creator, the CEO of

293

the company, you respect the position

they're coming from, and you trust them.

294

And that was helpful to read.

295

Chris: definitely true.

296

I've shook their hand.

297

They're a good human.

298

You know, they have a mission like ours.

299

And the other thing, Stephanie, is

everything I've recommended, I've

300

tried on my guinea pig children first.

301

Steph: Uh-huh.

302

Chris: you have to imagine, you

know, my daughter's 21 now, so she

303

was in her teenage years not that

long ago, sort of when I was getting

304

Protect Young Eyes off the ground.

305

You know, if you're a teen girl and your

dad is the head of Protect Young Eyes,

306

that is a horrible spot to be in, is it?

307

Another thing that dad's trying.

308

" Dad, the router won't work again."

309

"Oh, I'm trying a new one."

310

"Oh, what's the password?"

311

You know?

312

Steph: Yes.

313

Chris: So there you go.

314

Steph: We have tried the Pinwheel

phone and the TrueMe phone in our

315

home, and, there's that moment of,

"Oh my goodness, it would be half the

316

price to hand my kids my old iPhone."

317

I mean, less than half the

318

Chris: Yeah

319

Steph: I'm like, "I don't care

how tight our budget is, I

320

am not compromising on this."

321

So I was really happy to see that you were

agreeing that those are worthy options

322

Chris: They are, yeah

323

Steph: You say delay is the way,

and so you're not anti-tech, which I

324

think a lot of people will appreciate,

What are the guidelines you would

325

recommend for tech introduction

326

Chris: Every kid is a little bit

different, built a little bit different.

327

You have to know what

their tendencies are.

328

I was just in a conversation last

night with a parent who-- and it's a

329

little bit of a complicated situation

because they're fostering, and so foster

330

children often have past baggage and

attachment and other relational issues

331

that really complicate technology.

332

But he basically said, "Even as a

16-year-old, I can't give her a device.

333

Her impulse control is just so poor in

terms of regulation that we just can't."

334

And so that's kinda the first question

is knowing your child, knowing what their

335

vulnerabilities and their temptations are.

336

But, you know, then it's just a matter

of steps, no different than maybe

337

how you approached riding a bicycle.

338

You didn't go to the top of

the tallest hill and shove them

339

down and take video footage.

340

At least not if you're uh, probably

the sort of parent listening to your

341

podcast but you did some intentional

things to prepare them for that,

342

whether it was training wheels or a

balance bike or a helmet, or maybe

343

you did it on a sidewalk where they

could bail out on grassy surfaces.

344

You did all of these different

things to get them ready

345

for that sort of big moment.

346

And that's really all this is, whether

it's maybe starting with a watch and

347

it's not theirs, but they take it with

them when they're going somewhere so

348

that you can call them or text them.

349

Maybe then it's a device that's super

locked down, like Bark and others that

350

can be locked down pretty tight without

a browser, without any social media,

351

but they can still have that call you.

352

Not taking it to school, I'm not

a big fan unless there's supports

353

or other things in junior high.

354

You know, for example, my middle school

son doesn't take his phone to school.

355

It's not needed.

356

We pick him up.

357

He can call us from the

office if necessary.

358

So all of that to kind of say like

even when we're saying yes to certain

359

age-appropriate devices I'm wanting

them to tote it around as few times as

360

possible, like as little as possible.

361

I don't want it to become this extra limb.

362

Even though it's safe, even though it's

protected, it's sort of training them

363

psychosomatically that this is something

I need to carry with me all the time.

364

And that's, that's a mindset that I don't

want to set in for as long as possible.

365

Because how many of us as adults, when

we get in the car and go somewhere

366

and we forget our phone, you instantly

feel anxiety because we've been trained

367

now to think we have to have it.

368

And, and again, I'm not saying that

it's apples to apples with a 13-year-old

369

versus an adult, but that anxiety has

been trained into us a little bit.

370

Now, you can probably go get

groceries or you could probably

371

go fill up the car without it.

372

You're okay.

373

You're okay.

374

So those are some of the things

and then maybe progressing toward

375

when they have a dumber smartphone.

376

My 16-year-old, uh, son, he has

an old iPhone of mine that's

377

connected through screen time to

my phone, but he knows it was mine.

378

Actually, that handing down a

device isn't always a bad idea if

379

the appropriate steps have been

taken because you can communicate

380

the fact that it's your device.

381

That parent-led ownership component

is really important, and we talk

382

about that a lot in Habit Five,

that they don't own anything.

383

And so even to the extent, yeah, I'm,

I'm giving you an old device of mine.

384

It's still mine, I'm just gonna let you

use it, and here's how it's locked down,

385

and I can pick it up whenever I want.

386

I know the passcode I know how it wor-

like these are the sorts of mindsets

387

that even with an iPhone, if the right

steps have been taken, I think are okay.

388

So it's the steps, it's the

intentionality, it's the relationship,

389

it's the saying the things over and

over again so they know what your

390

expectations are, family values.

391

Again, how all the layers sort of build

up, how the habits build up to get to that

392

point where, yeah, you might say yes to

a smartphone and it might work out okay.

393

Steph: Yes.

394

So intentional.

395

And you talk about what if you feel

like you've gone too far and allowed

396

too much, what can you do at that point?

397

again, all of it has that banner of

love and being relational with your

398

kids Even if they're frustrated, They'll

hopefully look back and realize they

399

did it out of love and protection.

400

Chris: Those are tough.

401

The, "I need to take stuff back.

402

I need to take some things away."

403

That's, that's tough, which is why we

dedicated a whole appendix to the what if

404

I need to take some things away, right?

405

What does that look like?

406

And a lot of nuance there, and

that's where, you know, each of those

407

situations, Stephanie, is unique because

every kid is a little bit unique.

408

And so we do share a lot of tips there

in the book, but if that still doesn't

409

address all of the nuance and variation

that you might be dealing with, for

410

anybody listening to this who knows

that that's what they need to do, that's

411

exactly why we hand then parents off

to, we have a digital coaching community

412

that parents can go to to get one-on-one

help through some of these situations.

413

So Abby from my team, she's fabulous

mom, um, former, you know, high

414

school teacher, just checks all

the boxes and super technical.

415

And so she navigates a tool that

we call The Table, because we want

416

parents to come to the table to have

a conversation about these difficult

417

situations, and that's where Abby is

answering those questions all of the time.

418

So, you know, if you happen to read

that and you go, "Yeah, but there's

419

still this or that," there's always

this or that, and that's where we want

420

The Table to be a spot where parents

can land to ask some of those other

421

really difficult, unique questions.

422

Steph: Sure.

423

Would you talk a little bit more about AI?

424

You did address it a little bit in

the book, but I had an early copy,

425

and I know you put more content in

after this, but I, I will say that I

426

am pretty anti-AI, but you corrected

my thinking on something because I say

427

please and thank you, and my kids are

like, " Mom you don't have to say please.

428

It's a robot."

429

It was good for you to correct me,

" you're humanizing it, and don't do that."

430

Those little ways sometimes

that it creeps in and you're not

431

Chris: it.

432

does.

433

I love that your kids are the

ones who said something to you.

434

That's really funny.

435

Like, "Mom, you don't need

to be nice to the robot."

436

But I've had others who have said,

"Well, Chris, when they take over, I

437

want them to remember that I was nice."

438

I'm like,

439

"Wait a minute.

440

We are, we are not preparing

for 'Terminator' here."

441

Like, this is not, this

is not what I want.

442

you know, right at the very end, I

had some copies made, and that's one

443

that you got, and then right at the

very end, knowing that AI would be

444

changing very quickly, we added whole

sections related to AI companions and

445

other recent research related to AI,

and just some of the even ways that

446

it's gone really poorly, where suicide

and other tragedies have taken place.

447

Because AI, at the end of the day,

is a very sycophantic technology.

448

And what does that mean?

449

It means that it is highly complementary

and supportive of the things that

450

you're thinking and doing, and kind of

even your neuros- you know, whatever

451

neurotic activity or thoughts that

you might have, that I'm a genius

452

and I'm the one that's going to solve

this math equation or come up with

453

some formula that it'll kinda support

you and say, "Yes, you're capable and

454

good, and have you thought about this?"

455

And it just sorta keeps prodding

you down this path of you're awesome

456

without really holding you in check.

457

And so that's the part that can get,

for some kids, vulnerable in different

458

ways, can get a little bit dangerous,

who are entertaining certain extreme

459

ideas, who are entertaining certain

thoughts related to mental wellbeing.

460

And in front of something that doesn't

really care about you as a human and

461

is going to almost be like a yes to

everything that you say, that's not

462

the kind of feedback you're looking

for in the midst of those scenarios.

463

So that's why we have to be

just really careful with it.

464

No AI is used unsupervised.

465

That's sort of a basis.

466

Um, as I tell parents,

AI is the new porn talk

467

It took me a while to convince parents

to talk to their kids about pornography.

468

We don't have that much time with AI.

469

This is the new talk.

470

This is the conversation to be

reminding them that it's just sand

471

and metal, that it's not a savior.

472

Treat it like a hammer, not a human.

473

It's a tool, right?

474

It's got no soul, even though you can read

on certain landing pages for AI companion

475

websites that it has memory and a soul.

476

So the marketing is doing whatever

it can to make it sound as human.

477

That's this phenomena called

anthropomorphism, where it makes it

478

feel and look as human as possible.

479

And the phrase that I use now is that, you

know, social media came for our attention

480

this time, as you alluded to, right?

481

It's not just that pornography and gaming,

I mean, those are valid issues, but

482

the time that it consumes where it's…

483

I read an article one time that called

it the 30-minute ick, where you pick

484

up your phone to check one thing,

and you look up 30 minutes later

485

and you go, "What just happened?"

486

And you feel icky because you've

lost 30 minutes of life, right?

487

The 30-minute ick.

488

That's the attention component.

489

AI isn't trying to connect

us with 100 million people.

490

It's trying to connect with one,

you It's coming for our affection.

491

It's coming for our deep desire to

connect and feel seen and heard.

492

And that's what's so dangerous in

young people because, of course, we

493

as adults want to be seen and heard

and want someone to listen to us

494

and agree with us, and that's great.

495

But when you're a teenager during puberty,

that middle part of the brain which is

496

responsible for connection, that limbic

system which feels stress, which feels

497

arousal and anxiety and emotions and

love That is on fire during adolescence.

498

That's why things seem 10 times worse

sometimes when you're a teenager compared

499

to reality, and that's stuff that I

explore quite a bit in habit number four.

500

But then you pair that up with an AI that

never has drama, that's never messy, that

501

never cuts you down, and is always nice.

502

The paid version will even send you phone

calls and text messages during the day,

503

will be an AI girlfriend or boyfriend

and send you sexy selfies and videos.

504

It feels very human, and it scratches

a part of your brain deep down that

505

you really want, and that is connection

with something that cares about me.

506

So, we have to be reminding our kids over

and over and over again of its dangers,

507

that it's just sand and metal, that

it has no soul, that it has no wisdom.

508

It cannot stand in awe of

the creator God like we can.

509

It is none of these things that it is

impersonating in a very believable way.

510

So yes, we talk to our kids about

pornography, but if you're gonna

511

decide to do that, you might as

well keep going and talk about AI.

512

And these are some of the things that

I added very close to the end there

513

before we printed these ideas and

tips for having these conversations

514

related to artificial intelligence.

515

Steph: Thank you.

516

And it came across so clearly there,

but it really is throughout the book

517

to not be condemning our kids for the

weaknesses that we would be struggling too

518

if we were the 14-year-old handed this,

519

and and to give them grace and to

not be angry that they are struggling

520

with it, and to not put that barrier

because we want the relationship to

521

guide them into a place of victory.

522

Chris: So glad

523

Steph: The intentionality of how

you wrote this, and like I said,

524

this is the why and the how.

525

If you as a parent are overwhelmed at all,

or even if you feel like, "You know what?

526

I've got a good grip on that," this is

just gonna validate everything that you've

527

done and tell you to stay the course.

528

Like I said, I'm gonna give this

an absolute must read, and I'm--

529

I, I really do wanna talk to

my church staff about it too.

530

How can we be, equipping

the entire congregation?

531

Because this issue affects

532

Chris: It does.

533

Yep.

534

It's multi-generational.

535

Any grandparents on board, they actually

have a really critical role here.

536

Aunts and uncles who you maybe

don't have children yet, but you

537

are that key relationship in the

life of your niece or your nephew.

538

I mean, all of these relational

layers and the church.

539

So I'm so thankful that

you're doing that because them

540

stepping up really would help.

541

It really would

542

Steph: I know that you are so busy,

and I'm really grateful for the time

543

that you sat down with us today.

544

Thank you for all you're doing, and

I'm gonna be committing to pray for you

545

because this is such a big mantle you're

taking up, and it could not be more

546

Chris: Thank you, Stephanie.

547

I appreciate this time

548

Speaker 3: Aren't you so grateful

that you don't have to figure

549

this all out on your own?

550

I certainly am, and I wanna

help you get this book.

551

We have all the directions for

the giveaway in our show notes.

552

Check out those details and , get

back to those smiles and that sunshine