We live in a world full of modern conveniences. From everyday things like refrigerators, to science fiction like self driving cars. Technology is advancing at break-neck speeds and nowhere is that more evident than in the realm of connectivity. We don’t just have appliances, we have “smart” appliances that are able to “talk” to each other. The phones most of us carry in our pockets are more powerful and have more features than desktop computers from just ten years ago.
With increased convenience, however, has come increased dependence. The average adult spends close to 4 hours a day on their phone. Those numbers can be much higher for teens and children. With over 3.6 billion cell phone users in the world, 6.3 percent are believed to suffer from cell phone addiction, or “nomophobia”, the fear of being without ones cell phone. The effects of cell phone addiction on the brain are similar to other addictions such as gambling and shopping.
As destructive as “nomophobia” and its effects can be, there are far more dangerous consequences that have flourished with technology. Pornography and sex trafficking have risen to levels unattainable before the advances in modern technology. The internet has erased the barriers that once existed to keep obscene material out of the hands of children, and children out of the hands of obscene people. Now the most hard-core pornography is within reach of anyone with a connected device. In the same way the internet has allowed for a network of predators to collaborate free from the barriers of language and location. What was once thought to only happen in the “big city”, now is possible in the most distant and rural areas with the only necessity being a cell phone.
With technology changing so fast, how do you keep up? How do you keep your children safe in a connected world? We at Redeeming the Family recognize this need and that is why we have created Beyond the Screen. Beyond the Screen is an educational seminar that shows parents the scope of the problem and what they can do to protect their children.
Redeeming the Family also has workshops that focus on particular areas, such as home internet safety, that can equip people with the knowledge and resources to keep their family safe.
If you would like more information about hosting a Beyond the Screen seminar, or one of our workshops, just click the button below and send us your information.