Welcome to another amazing episode of the Collide Kids Podcast, hosted by Christen Clark! This episode delves into the crucial topic of digital safety for kids and families in today's tech-driven world. This week's guest is Chris McKenna, the founder of Protect Young Eyes, a resource dedicated to providing practical solutions to keep children safe online.
Chris brings his expertise to the table, discussing how to navigate the digital landscape, particularly during the summer months when screen time often increases. We cover key factors that heighten digital risk—new places, new people, and new patterns—and offers actionable advice for parents and children to manage these challenges effectively. Open communication, setting boundaries, and understanding the influence of technology on family dynamics are also key points of focus.
You will gain invaluable tips and strategies from this conversation! So, grab your headphones and get ready for an enriching episode that provides essential insights for navigating the digital world safely.
Clip Finder:
The Dangers of Technology: "It didn't feel like putting a hundred million people with 100 million choices inside the pockets of amazing, curious, but sometimes impulsive young people was a great idea."
— Chris McKenna [00:04:55 → 00:05:04]
"The Hidden Cost of the Internet": "I want every human listening to this, whether you're 4 or 104, to understand that almost everything that we use that's connected to the Internet wasn't designed with human flourishing in mind. Why? ... for kids listening to this, understand that everything you use connected to the Internet wants to make money. That's just the reality of it."
— Chris McKenna [00:11:33 → 00:11:54]
The Power of Relationships in Gaming and Social Media: "They know that you'll stay in the game longer because they know, just like God does, that relationships matter."
— Chris McKenna [00:13:54 → 00:14:02]
Nighttime Digital Risk for Kids: "There's something about being online at night again, that toxic trio of bedrooms, boredom and darkness that always multiplies digital problems."
— Chris McKenna [00:19:05 → 00:19:13]
**Navigating Digital Boundaries for Kids**: "I think that we need to just, with love and curiosity, ask loving, curious questions about what kinds of digital controls are in place in the physical places where my child is spending time."
— Chris McKenna [00:20:34 → 00:20:48]
The Importance of Knowing Other Parents: "I just think that's more necessary today that we need to know the parents of the kids that our kids are hanging out with so we can have these conversations, establish a relationship with them."
— Chris McKenna [00:22:31 → 00:23:16]
How to Keep Kids Safe Online: "If somebody at a house or a place that you go to wants to show you something on a tablet or a screen or a phone, they always go, whoa, whoa, wait, wait, wait. Before you show me, tell me, what is it that you're trying to show me and make them tell you what it is that the
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