teens

Parents Shopping Kids on Instagram, Wake Up

Parents Shopping Kids on Instagram, Wake Up

A recent article in the New York Times detailed a deeply disturbing phenomenon. Titled “A Marketplace of Girl Influencers Managed by Moms and Stalked by Men,” it ran the following sub-heading: “Seeking social media stardom for their underage daughters, mothers post images of them on Instagram. The accounts draw men sexually attracted to children, and they sometimes pay to see more.”

5 Comforting Reminders Moms of Teens Need to Hear Today

5 Comforting Reminders Moms of Teens Need to Hear Today

Parenting teens in today's world can feel beyond overwhelming - kind of like trying to stay cool when you're a piece of dry wood tossed into a dumpster fire. Many of us elder Millennials and Gen X'ers have parented teens through the evolution of smartphones, Snap Chat, and X-box Live. We have no earthly idea what we're doing. Yet, we're meant to serve as master-class-level digital police, culture war moderators, and spiritual warfare ninjas in an increasingly ludicrous world. Deep. Breaths.

It's so difficult to keep the faith and remain optimistic while dealing with teenage mood swings, unforeseen drama, evolving personalities, and all the other magic that keeps our therapists equally horrified and entertained on the regular. However, just today, I had a God thought. It happened while spacing out at the kitchen sink, listening to my 14 and 16-year-old boys roam through the house, chattering away on their Air pods, leaving a trail of snack wrappers in their wake. The voice simply said, "They're both amazing. and they're both going to be okay." Admittedly, I was pretty caffeinated and high off a fresh Maverick City worship set, but my mind was heavily flooded with some assurances and truths I wanted to share with every mom of teens because, frankly, we never (ever) hear enough edification or comfort. We probably need to remind ourselves of these truths daily, but I hope this helps, even for today.

Photo credit: ©GettyImages/Galina Zhigalova

Dear Teens, Virginity Is Good for You

Dear Teens, Virginity Is Good for You
Teens who abstain from sex are healthier than those who don’t. Once again, research backs up the life-giving moral claims of a Christian worldview.

Record 26 Percent of High School Students Identify as LGBTQ, New CDC Data Shows

Record 26 Percent of High School Students Identify as LGBTQ, New CDC Data Shows

A record 26 percent of American high school students identify as LGBTQ, according to new CDC data that a prominent political scientist says is a form of “social contagion.”

Is a 'Surge of Faith' Happening with Younger Americans?

Is a 'Surge of Faith' Happening with Younger Americans?

According to The Wall Street Journal, recent polling data shows a “Surprising surge of faith among young people.” As columnist Clare Ansberry wrote, “About one-third of 18-to-25-year-olds say they believe—more than doubt—the existence of a higher power, up from about one quarter in 2021, according to a recent survey of young adults.”

This study corresponds with others that have offered surprising insights about Generation Z. One Barna study found that, globally, 52% of teenagers today identify as Christian, and 6 in 10 are motivated to know more about Jesus. In the U.S. and Canada, Barna concluded, teens feel less negatively about sharing their faith than Millennials do, with 81% rejecting the statement that “if someone disagrees with you, it means they’re judging you.”

Children Would Receive Trans Treatments without Parental Consent under Washington Bill

Children Would Receive Trans Treatments without Parental Consent under Washington Bill

The bill, SB 5599, says youth shelters must notify the parents of a runaway child unless there are “compelling reasons” not to do so. Under current law, a compelling reason includes abuse or neglect. SB 5599 carves out another compelling reason: “receiving protected health care services,” including “gender affirming treatment” and “reproductive health care services.” 

Netflix, Amazon Are Pushing R-Rated Content to Children and Teens: Watchdog

Netflix, Amazon Are Pushing R-Rated Content to Children and Teens: Watchdog

A parental watchdog is sounding the alarm on popular teen-centric TV series and warning parents that Netflix and Amazon are pushing content to children that deserves an R-rating.

The Thorn Is for Teens Who Don’t Like Church, Producer Says: It's 'Cirque Meets The Passion'

<em>The Thorn</em> Is for Teens Who Don’t Like Church, Producer Says: It's 'Cirque Meets The Passion'

John Bolin acknowledges that his live Bible-based stage production known as The Thorn isn't for everyone.

It's not a traditional play or a traditional musical, although it has elements of both. Bolin describes The Thorn as a "cirque-immersive experience" that's heavy on dance, visual arts and sound. He designed it for teenagers and college students, although more than 1 million people of all ages have watched it since it launched more than two decades ago.

On March 6-7, moviegoers nationwide can watch The Thorn in their local theater as part of a special two-night Fathom event.

Atheism Doubles among Generation Z – Here are 7 Facts You Need to Know

Atheism Doubles among Generation Z – Here are 7 Facts You Need to Know

The percentage of teens who identify as atheist is double that of the general population, according to new research from Barna. Atheism and secularism are growing trends in our postmodern culture, and it is important to understand these trends if we are ever to reverse them. The youngest generation is sure to have a great influence on the future, and it is imperative that we reach these young people with the Gospel. These teens are part of Generation Z, the first “post-Christian” generation.

To help you understand this generation, here are seven facts you need to know about “Gen Z:”

Photo courtesy: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/jacoblund

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