The digital age is affecting how America communicates. It is also shaping parent-
child relationships. Those are some of the conclusions of the Barna Group from their
survey of parents and 11-to-17-year-olds from the same household.

They found that parents are just as dependent on technology as are teens and
tweens. In fact, parents are more likely than their kids to use cell phones and desktop
computers. Parents watch just as much television and movies, use the Internet for as
many minutes per day, and spend more time on the telephone than their kids spend.
Young people do spend more time listening to music, texting, and playing video games.

The survey also found that very few adults or youth take substantial breaks from
technology. Their addiction to digital technology is significant. One out of three parents
and nearly half of their children say there is no specific time when they “make the choice
to disconnect from or turn off technology so they have a break from it.” Nearly half of
both parents and teens said they emailed, texted, or talked on the phone while eating in
the last week. Two out of five youth and one-third of parents have used two or more
screens simultaneously during the last week.

I also found it interesting that very few families have experienced (or even expect)
churches to address technology. Most parents and their children have not heard any kind
of teaching in a church, religious setting, or public forum (like school) about how
families can best use media, entertainment, or technology. On the other hand, nearly a
majority expressed interest in hearing “a Christian or faith-based perspective about how
to be a good user of entertainment and technology.”

Pastors and church leaders, are you listening? We live in a digital age that is
affecting us. We also know that it can sometimes influence us in negative ways. Those of
us in church leadership should be addressing these issues and providing biblical
guidelines.