In this week’s episode, Kelly unpacks Roblox’s slogan, “Reimagining how people come together,” and how it reveals the platform’s ultimate goal for young people to spend their entire lives in the virtual world. It’s the techno-optimistic worldview on steroids.

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Articles referenced:

Roblox: Reimagining How People Come Together

Scripture referenced:

Genesis 1:27

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Roblox is back in the news, and in this episode, we are reviewing what Roblox is (in case you don’t know) and why it’s facing so much backlash. They boast new parental controls and safety initiatives in the midst of legal cases alleging they neglected to protect children from predatory exploitation. Should parents trust Roblox to be a safe platform? Kelly walks through how the design of Roblox reveals a techno-optimistic worldview that opposes God’s Word and any effort a parent makes to protect their child on the platform.

Articles referenced:

National Center on Sexual Exploitation: Roblox, A Mainstream Contributor to Sexual Exploitation

Scripture referenced:

Hebrews 13:8

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AI chatbots promise “safe” learning, entertainment, and companionship, but how do these artificial agents distort childhood as God intended childhood?

In this episode, Kelly unpacks the worldview behind AI technology, contrasts it with biblical discipleship, and explains why children and chatbots are terrible playmates. Using the example of AngelQ, the children’s app offering a kid-safe chatbot for children to explore their curiosities, Kelly explains how apps like this fundamentally distorts human childhood.

Scripture referenced:

Hebrews 13:8

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In this episode, Kelly and Nathan discuss the pros and cons of the AngelQ app after 3 weeks of hands-on testing. AngelQ advertises itself as a kid-safe internet browser (“superbrowser”) through the use of an AI chatbot interface. While its safety is greater than anything else available, do its other features make the app a net benefit or a net loss for children?

Check out the Brave Parenting Guide to AngelQ on our website.

Watch this episode on YouTube.

References:

AngelQ website

Scripture references:

Ephesians 2:11

Check out the Foundation Worldview curriculum that Kelly & Nathan mention in the show!

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AI tutors and personalized learning programs are poised to take over the classroom. With new partnerships between AI companies and teachers’ organizations, this is coming to public schools whether parents want it or not. Today, we’re restating the obvious reasons why AI does not have to be learned or used in elementary school and what you can do to ensure it isn’t.

Articles referenced:

The AI Industry is Funding A Massive AI Training Initiative for Teachers

Microsoft, OpenAI, and a US Teachers’ Union Are Hatching a Plan to ‘Bring AI Into the Classroom’

Apple ConnectED

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The largest toy manufacturer has just joined forces with OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT. Mattel and OpenAI have not disclosed exactly what they will be creating. Still, considering Mattel’s history with Hello Barbie, it’s a likely guess that it’s a generative AI conversational toy, such as Barbie or Thomas the Train.

Parents must think critically and biblically before allowing their children to engage with any AI, especially in toys.

Articles referenced: 

Barbie Gets ChatGPT: Why Parents Should Pay Attention

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TikTok has banned the popular hashtag #skinnytok from its platform due to being linked with “unhealthy weight loss content.” Does this mean TikTok cares about the content it hosts? Or is this just virtuous P.R. for them? Considering that similar hashtags are still popular, we can assume nothing has actually changed. Unrealistic beauty standards still pervade every corner of social media.

Teens who aren’t on social media platforms like TikTok are not exempt from the wildly influential dieting and restricted eating trends that saturate culture. While restricting your daughter’s access to such harmful content is important, there are other protective actions you can take that are often neglected.

Articles referenced:

TikTok Banned the “SkinnyTok” Hashtag. It’s Only a Matter of Time Until a New Insidious Diet Trend Replaces It

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Today, Kelly is joined by Nathan, a Brave Parenting ambassador, parent, and internet security expert, to discuss the video gaming app TruPlay. This app offers Christian video games that the company promotes will nurture your child’s faith and teach them biblical wisdom. Those are strong claims, so we spent weeks researching every aspect of the app, playing the games, and watching the videos. Kelly and Nathan unpack the great and the not-so-great aspects of TruPlay so that parents can wisely decide if this game is better than no game at all.

Be sure to check out the Brave Parenting Guide to TruPlay Christian Games on our website. The guide offers a more comprehensive overview of the app, complete with screenshots and images, to help parents make an informed decision.

TruPlay website

Brave Parenting Guide to TruPlay

Scripture referenced:

Matthew 5:44

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In this cultural update for Christian parents, Kelly examines the trend of Gen Z opting for dumb phones and embracing Blackberry phones. News outlets are reporting this but are teens and young adults actually getting tired of their iPhones and boldly embracing dumb phones? This sounds amazing….and totally too good to be true.

Articles referenced:

Gen Z is swapping their smartphones for this retro alternative: ‘Need a social media detox’

Scripture referenced:

Proverbs 14:12

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Today, we continue in our series of testimonies from those who have boldly decided to quit social media. Joining Kelly on the podcast is Lucy Staples. Lucy’s story is representative of many teens we have spoken to, whose parents restricted their social media use throughout most of high school. When Lucy was finally able to get Instagram and TikTok, she experienced what only wisdom and maturity can provide: doubt that it was good for her and regret for the time she’d already lost inside the apps.

Parents do not want to miss this conversation. It will motivate you to hold strong despite the pushback! No parent ever wished they had given their teen access to social media earlier in life, but many regret allowing too much, too soon.

Book a Speaking Event!!

Buy the NEWLY UPDATED book: Managing Media Creating Character (2024 Revised & Updated)

Get Kelly’s new Study Guide & Workbook, with video teachings for small groups.

Teach your kids how to have a biblical worldview with Foundation Worldview!

Check out the Pinwheel phone – it’s our favorite not-as-smart kid-safe smartphone on the market.

Sign up for the Brave Bullet Points newsletter! This helps us communicate what’s new without social media – a win for everyone!