veryday my inbox is populated with an increasing number of articles and news stories of teenagers getting themselves in trouble with technology. Whether it’s the middle school girl sending sexually inappropriate pictures of herself to others or the group of high schoolers that bullied a classmate into taking their life, it’s enough to make any parent want to take away every screen in their teenagers’ lives. But as with any issue in teen culture, the bad news always screams louder than the good. It’s easy to lose perspective when we don’t hear of the teenagers that are making a difference.
There are a great many teenagers out there who are leading among their peers to bring about social change, and their primary megaphone is social media. When Julia Warren from Richmond, VA, was sixteen years old, her heart was burdened by the number of young children in her community who lived in perpetual sadness. She considered ways that she might be able to bring a small ray of light into their lives. After six months of playing around with different ideas, she landed on the one thing she thought every child deserves—a birthday party.
Julia is just one of many teenagers using social media and the web to share the gifts God has given them to change others’ lives. Wouldn’t it be great to add your teen’s name to that list of world-changers? People make a difference when they see others making a difference. Model to your child what it means to lead online by doing it yourself. Share stories about the things that are important to you. Inspire your child by talking about making a difference, giving them ideas of how they can lead in their community as well. There are a few ideas below to show your teen how they can impact others. Cut out the list and tape it to your teen’s mirror.
Social media can be a tool in the lives of your teenagers to make a difference in the world. Let’s reclaim the power of technology for good and help our teens stand out as lights in the darkness.