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The Teen's Guide to Social Media & Mobile Devices

Listen, there's no getting around this. There's no hoping this is just a phase. There's no going back.

This is the new normal.

Teens are being raised in a technologically advanced world, one where we may one day be subservient to the machines we are creating.

But, forgetting the scary dystopian future you may be imagining, the reality is that all of us are a part of a mobile world. One which loves their social media. The statistics tell us we are using our mobile devices a crazy 9 hours every single day. Every. Single. Day.

This is where Jonathan McKee comes in. Here is a man who spends his time doing the research, shining a light on the realities that are present for parents raising teenagers. Oh, but he does waaay more than that.

He breaks down the numbers and gives us hope that not all is lost. Because it isn't. Jonathan continues to provide resources which help us to pause, take a deep breath, and figure out how we want to utilize this technology in our own families. That's what he's done with his latest book, The Teen's Guide to Social Media & Mobile Devices.



This book sets up parents and teenagers to have a conversation. Very early on, he writes, "I'm not going to tell you what to do. You're the one who has to make these choices." He then provides 21 tips for teenagers in making the best use of the tech in their pocket.

But here's the greatest part of what McKee has done for us. He's not giving us tips on how to text hands-free or how to take the best pictures. He's giving us solid, Biblical advice on how to approach the tech we are already using. And he does so in a way that is not preachy or judgmental.

What he's really pointing out to teens is how to live, because these tips are all very relatable. He touches on topics like thinking before you post, or text, or send a picture you'll regret. He warns of the dangers of talking online with people we don't know in real life. He hits the heart matters when he discusses how we deal with online criticism, or questions what we allow our ears to hear and our eyes to see.

He does all of this, while sprinkling in scripture to remind us of the values we should be living out in every area of our lives.

I have two teenagers of my own, and this is the stuff that can very quickly becomes things we argue about. Jonathan has provided a very conversational tool, even offering discussion questions with each chapter.

Do you deal with teenagers in any setting? Then this is a resource you should invest in. You can find it on his website or on Amazon. I highly recommend this book.

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