Resource Roundup
Some things I have found helpful lately
This installment of Resource Roundup is admittedly narrowly focused on technology, which seems to be on everyone’s mind during this back-to-school season. But, hey, at least there’s one that’s not just about teens and social media.
“What happened when I made my sons and their friends go without smartphones” - A journalist in the UK conducts an experiment in which her teens and a group of friends ditched their smartphones for four weeks, culminating in a parent-free camping trip. I found some quotes from the two girls particularly interesting.
“It’s a trap,” Edie says. “You’re stuck, because if you do escape, you’re classed as a weirdo, and you’ll fall behind on trends, you won’t understand what people are talking about.” Rose jumps in, “But if you do watch TikTok, you’re going to get influenced.”
Two other Substacks have also posted noteworthy reflections on this article:
Journalist Sends Kids off on a Smartphone-Free Camping Trip – Unsupervised. Adults Quake. Kids Flourish. from the After Babel Substack
10 Kids. 0 Phones. 1 unsupervised camping trip. What could go wrong? from How To Feel Alive with Catherine Price
“Christian Celebrity Will Now Be AI-fueled, part 2” - In the coming years, AI will undoubtedly influence how we do many things, including ministry. This article shares one nefarious way that AI could change Christian celebrity culture. May we not lose sight that we need real relationships, not fake ones.
“'It stains your brain': How social media algorithms show violence to boys” - I usually focus a bit more on how social media effects girls, but this one is worth noting, too. “We are asking a private company whose interest is to promote their products to moderate themselves, which is like asking a tiger not to eat you.”
“How Cell Phones Have Made Middle School Even Harder” - Over at ScreenStrong, a teacher shares a powerful example of how smartphones and social media have transformed how difficult it can be to navigate the already awkward and challenging middle school years.