Often, apps begin with noble intentions of “connection” or “education.” While they promise to be different, they inevitably resort to classic tactics for maximum engagement: streaks, coins, leaderboards, FOMO, and notifications. In this episode, Kelly uncovers this trend using Duolingo and Zigazoo as examples. This trend of app devolution is important for parents to understand. You may not be able to keep track of every app update, but you know your child, and you can recognize when something has changed.

Articles referenced:

Brave Parenting Guide to Duolingo

Scripture referenced:

1 Thes 5:4-6

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After years of doing nothing, Big Tech social platforms started releasing new “teen safety” and “parental controls” to show how much they care about and prioritize children’s safety. The problem with these new safety features is that they are not enough. It’s the design of social media and games that creates spaces of chaos where everyone does what is right in their own eyes.

Articles referenced:

Time Limits for YouTube Shorts Scrolling

Scripture referenced:

Judges 21:25

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In today’s Brave Briefing, Kelly reviews the new book, The Amazing Generation by Jonathon Haidt and Catherine Price. Written for a Gen Alpha audience, this book aims to inspire rebels who don’t let technology use them. This book serves almost as a hopeful sequel to The Anxious Generation, which highlighted the harms done to Gen Z by online media and technology.  Listen in to this brief episode to get our take on this book.

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Lots of companies promise solutions for taming screen time (for kids and adults). Joining Kelly today on the podcast is Heather Wilkinson, sharing her personal story about excessive screen time, parenting, and the most powerful force for change: The Brick.

The Brick is a physical device you tap in order to unlock the phone restrictions you’ve set up for yourself. Kinda like tap-to-pay, but better! It still requires intentionality and self-discipline but it may just be what can help you as well! Check out The Brick for yourself.

Books referenced:

12 Ways Your Phone is Changing You

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LifeWise Academy has created an incredible program to enable kids in public schools to receive Bible education during school hours! In this episode, Kelly sits down with Aaron Braswell, a Texas director for LifeWise, to hear more about the ministry’s amazing work.

Listen to learn how kids, families, and communities are being changed and how to help bring LifeWise Academy to your public school. There may already be a program started that you can help launch!

Visit LifeWise Academy

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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.

WATCH THIS EPISODE ON YOUTUBE

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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