When I see whiffle ball, and I hear the piano, I know we’re probably doing ok as a family. And when I turn on the news and see what Meta has been programming AI to engage in sensual conversations with children, I don’t feel bad about keeping my children away from social media. I wouldn’t have my job if not for social media. I’ve learned a lot. I’ve made and maintained many friends. I would miss social media. But I’m glad I had a childhood without it. Just a computer with internet contributed to enough problems. If we as parents could see what our children see on social media, we wouldn’t hesitate to keep them away. That’s why Clare Morell calls for a tech exit: “no smartphones, social media, tablets, or video games during childhood.”Morell is a fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center and director of its Technology and Human Flourishing Project. You met her husband earlier this year on Gospelbound as Caleb Morell wrote about the history of Capitol Hill Baptist Church.In her book The Tech Exit: A Practical Guide to Freeing Kids and Teens from Smartphones, Clare says we’ve reached a tipping point in the fight against letting smartphones take over childhood. The key is preserving something better, something more valuable: the chance for our children to contribute to their family and community, to enjoy the bonds of families and the boundaries of neighborhoods. Clare writes, “It turns out that screens cost children more than just their time; they also cause them to lose their appetite for things of the real world.” In This Episode00:00 – Why kids need a “tech exit” in the age of AI chatbots02:52 – Addictive by design: dopamine, algorithms, and broken parental controls08:42 – Christian hope and human flourishing: forming persons, not consumers15:20 – The five-step family plan for smartphone-free childhood22:52 – Policy momentum: bans, age restrictions, and global lessons32:33 – Practical guidance for families, churches, and schools45:24 – Parents as models: rhythms, phone boxes, and screen-free communityMentioned ResourcesThe Tech Exit: A Practical Guide to Freeing Kids and Teens from Smartphones by Clare MorellClare's SubstackMore from ClareAlternative “tools-only” phones:BarkGabbPinwheelWisephone SIGN UP for my newsletter, Unseen ThingsHelp The Gospel Coalition renew and unify the contemporary church in the ancient gospel: Donate TodayDon’t miss an episode of Gospelbound with Collin Hansen:Apple PodcastsSpotifyYouTubeTGC Updates Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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