Every organization and business in the Media and Technology landscape offers parents ‘Peace of Mind.” They promise peace that only their app or service can deliver: “Peace starts with us.” They offer parents peace as an apology: “We didn’t care about your kid’s safety before, but we do now, and here are some safety features to prove it.”  

And why is everyone offering parents peace? Because screens and the internet are the greatest source of stress for parents. In this episode, Kelly gives many examples of the ever-so-common promise that specific, better, or new media and technology can give parents the peace of mind they need to allow their kids to use it. Can these products and services actually give peace?

Of course not, because peace is a Person named Jesus.

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Articles referenced:

RightasRain UW Medicine: 4 Reasons Your Kid Isn’t Ready for a Smartphone (Yet)

Scripture referenced:

John 16:33

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Kelly and Ryan answer the most common questions you’ve asked in 2025.

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A new app has emerged over the last few years, gaining popularity among preteens. No doubt because the app markets itself as “Gen Alpha’s social media.”

Coverstar has the feel of TikTok, but with stricter community guidelines for content, zero tolerance for violations, and no direct messages. While it is perhaps “safer” than TikTok, what does an app that encourages young girls to put themselves on public display and compete for likes and follows actually do for their developing self-worth? Or for their future integrity?

In this episode, Kelly digs into the influencer economy and culture, and how this, specifically, is the crux of social media’s harm. Tragically, this economy of harm is thriving on Coverstar.

Articles referenced:

Brave Parenting Guide to Yope

Scripture referenced:

Galatians 5

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It’s Deactivation Week!! On December 10th in Australia (which is really December 9 in the US), the first-ever social media ban will take effect. The major platforms are required by law to deactivate the accounts of children and teens under 16. Kelly reviews the details of the new law, the pushback from Big Tech, advocacy groups, parents, and teens, and why all of this is so important.

While we watch and see how this works in Australia, here are some takeaways:

Brave Parenting Guides to Lemon8 and Yope (Where Australian kids are rumored to be heading.)

Articles referenced:

Is This the End of Kids on Social Media?

Scripture referenced:

2 Corinthians 11:14

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Today, we talk about the connection between sleep (or lack thereof), screens, and spiritual apathy. Kelly walks through five ways screens contribute to sleep deprivation and how children and teens who are sleep deprived are more likely to experience poor mental health, among other negative outcomes. More important for Christian parents is the spiritual apathy that arises in kids who are sleep-deprived. In this episode, you will learn how sleep is both biblical and necessary for children’s and teens’ spiritual health. Armed with this knowledge, you will be encouraged and equipped to make changes to your family structure to reprioritize sleep, remove screens from the bedroom, and reinforce the biblical importance of getting enough rest.

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Articles referenced:

Teens & Sleep: The Hidden Cost of Sleep Deprivation

Scripture referenced:

Psalm 121:3-4

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Before you start Black Friday and Cyber Monday shopping for the latest and greatest tech gadgets, toys, and tools, it is important to have a biblical approach to gift-giving. In this episode, you’ll learn:

As a bonus, there is a deeper dive into AI toys that are saturating the toy market.  One AI-powered bear has been shown to provide sexual fetish information for kids! There is one great takeaway:

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Articles referenced:

China’s New AI Toys Are Headed For American Shelves

Teens Need More Friction – Not the iPhone 17

Scripture referenced:

John 3:16

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Snapchat released a digital safety course helping teens navigate the bullying, illicit drug activity, nude and intimate images, and sextortion found on their platform. Some may consider this altruistic, but it reveals a deeper problem with Snapchat’s very design. In this episode, Kelly walks through five points of contention with Snapchat’s design and the so-called “safety” options offered. Snapchat’s recent design upgrades further reveal that this is not an app for basic communication with friends. It’s an app that will do anything to make a profit – even if that means addicting them or exposing them to harmful content.

The difference between digital safety courses and biblical discipleship is wisdom. This episode provides parents with the facts about Snapchat’s current operations – an apologetic for prohibiting its use, to be used in discipling children to navigate a world that demands they use social media to connect and communicate

Articles referenced:

The Keys to Snapchat Safety

Scripture referenced:

Proverbs 25:28

Documentary referenced:

Can’t Look Away

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Today, Kelly interviews Michelle Lazor of Mud Hen Mama. Michelle has ten biological children and a mission to provide books that support the biblical worldview for families. At Brave Parenting, we are so passionate about children reading – but not just any reading, it should be quality, enriching stories. That is what her website, Mud Hen Mama, provides: books vetted for Christian families. Not only is she providing a wonderful resource, but her story is inspiring, and you’ll love hearing from a fellow brave parent.

Go to Mud Hen Mama to do your booking shopping this year! Support a Christian, family-owned business and use the discount code: BRAVE PARENTING to save 10% off your order!

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In a world where Netflix, Spotify, and Amazon tailor everything “just for you,” convenience quietly and subtly reshapes our kids’ worldview, identity, and habits. In this 200th episode, Kelly & Ryan unpack how hyper-personalization works, why it feels so good, and where it becomes dangerous. From echo chambers to the illusion of control (and even AI-generated media), we explore the risks and offer practical, biblical responses for families.

Five Tech Rules for Kids 12 & Under Article and Approved Technology for Children Under 12 Podcast

Articles Referenced:

How Target Figured Out A Teen Girl Was Pregnant Before Her Father Did

Books Referenced:

Mood Machine: The Rise of Spotify and the Cost of the Perfect Playlist by Liz Pelly

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How are parents to handle their kids’ insatiable desire for more stuff? Today, Elizabeth Urbanowicz from Foundation Worldview is here to talk about how we fight consumerism in our family. This is an urgent issue, for if it isn’t corrected when they are young, consumerism and materialism are magnified during the teen years. From iPhones and airPods to every trending item they see online, consumerism and coveting cripple young people. Kelly and Elizabeth talk about biblically faithful ways families can fight the sin of covetousness from taking over.

They also discuss Elizabeth’s newly published book, Helping Your Kids Know God’s Good Design: 40 Questions and Answers on Sexuality and Gender. This book is an excellent resource for anyone involved in the lives of children today.

Use promo code: BRAVE10 to receive $10 off a family license of any Foundation Worldview curriculum.

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