Indeed, we can only love something insofar as we direct our pure, generous attention toward it—be that to God, to a neighbour or to ourselves.

And in a world that so hungrily demands it, we should examine where we spend this finite resource. One such place rests in our very pockets.

Today, social media is a staple of our personal—and even spiritual—lives.

Bible study groups on Facebook, inspirational Christian accounts on Instagram, evangelical dating sites and viral sermons on TikTok are modernizing our religious landscape.

The more optimistic tout "digital discipleship" as the next best tool for spreading the Gospel.

But Christians should occasionally step back to evaluate new technology in terms of biblical guidance.

Before adopting any cultural innovation, we must have the courage to ask: Is there, perhaps, a snake in this garden?

Christians should occasionally step back to evaluate new technology in terms of biblical guidance.

There is a snake, and it is particularly interested in our children.

On March 18, Facebook announced plans to launch Instagram Youth, a version of the popular photo-sharing app designed specifically for 8- to-12-year-olds.

Despite public outrage, Facebook is not backing down from this decision, offering us a ripe opportunity for spiritual discernment.

Jesus teaches that "every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit" (Mt 7:17), so let us examine the fruits of this tree.

Studies have linked the excessive use of social media, especially Instagram, to childhood depression, anxiety, suicide, eating disorders, cyberbullying, narcissism, attention disorders, obesity and vulnerability to sexual predators.

According to a recent article in The Wall Street Journal, Facebook's own researchers have acknowledged Instagram's harmful effects, admitting in a March 2020 presentation posted to an internal message board that "We make body image issues worse for one in three teen girls."

But in their pursuit of profit, corporations such as Facebook ignore these known harms to children and the warnings of countless psychologists, lawmakers and doctors in their eagerness to ensnare new generations of consumers.

With a twisted root, how can we expect anything other than rotten fruit?

Materialistic consumption oils the cogs of the Instagram machine.

A recent study found that a startling 25 per cent of all Instagram posts were advertisements, and that statistic does not begin to include the abundance of corporate-funded "influencers" peddling exorbitant makeup routines, expensive clothing and superficially alluring lifestyles to children.

While radio, television and print media have long been funded by advertising, social media algorithms increase their potency by cleverly manipulating emotions; these algorithms promote feelings of constant inadequacy and addict users through Pavlovian dopamine hits that can come from sending and receiving "likes."

Even if Instagram Youth limits or excludes formal advertising, it would serve as a steppingstone to this harmful culture by normalizing image-based, materialistic values at a vulnerable age.

Corporations such as Facebook ignore these known harms to children and the warnings of countless psychologists, lawmakers and doctors in their eagerness to ensnare new generations of consumers.

The real possibilities of digital discipleship should not prevent Christians from engaging in honest conversations about the harms of technology. Continue reading

• Lucy Kidwell is a senior at Indiana University and co-chair of the Interfaith Work Group at Fairplay's Children's Screen Time Action Network, a grassroots group advocating for technology ethics.

We buy them a toy rather than spend more time with them; we lose our temper rather than practice patience; we put on the TV at dinnertime instead of having a conversation.

That's why this article from Time Magazine really stood out to me - because it's a reminder that tiny parenting moments, which seem so trivial at the time, can add up and have a lasting impact on our kids. Here are the five things kids will remember of you:

When you made them feel safe

My baby is not yet four months, but I can already sense how she feels safe when held by my husband or myself, especially when she's in an unfamiliar environment. Kids are vulnerable; they have an innate need to be protected.

When you think about how reckless children can be, it shows that they subconsciously put all their trust in their parents. But by the same token, they'll remember the times they felt unsafe - something to think about when we lose our temper with them or show anger in their presence.

When you gave them your undivided attention

So simple, yet so often not done! I read an article recently about how 10-15 minutes a day of undivided attention for your child - no phone, no TV in the background, nothing else on your mind - is so beneficial.

Talking with them, reading them a book, colouring with them or anything like that will do the trick. As the article put it, "What that gives them? The essentials to feel loved, safe, secure, self-assured, and valued. What it gives you? Much of the same and so much more."

Not to mention that it will help you create a relationship with your child that will last through to when they are adults. Continue reading

• Tamara El-Rahi lives in Australia and is a Journalism graduate from the University of Technology, Sydney.

You've had those moments — who hasn't? — on mountaintops or in art museums or even in prayer when you've felt that overwhelming sense of bigness and smallness all at once, the awesomeness of existence, the miracle and fragility of being human.

But it's easy to switch the channel. Life — work, TV, an alluring new bar — intervenes and all that reverence dissipates.

And then you have kids. And that existential shoulder shrug becomes a way of life because ... What are you going to do?

Entrust an unknown priest or rabbi to teach your children things you're not sure you believe yourself? Besides, there's soccer and birthday parties and brunch.

But this spiritual apathy nags at you. This isn't how you (or your parents and grandparents) were raised.

And a tiny voice inside you insists on wondering whether you shouldn't be teaching your kids something about the importance of holiness.

Now a new book by Columbia University psychologist Lisa Miller (no relation) commands that parents heed that little voice.

The Spiritual Child: The New Science on Parenting for Health and Lifelong Thriving is an exhaustive and compelling compendium of recent psychological and neurological research, all of which points in the same direction: Children who are raised with a robust and well-developed spiritual life are happier, more optimistic, more thriving, more flexible, and better equipped to deal with life's ordinary (and even extraordinary) traumas than those who are not.

Teenagers, in particular, are exponentially better off if they're in touch with their spiritual sides — less likely to abuse alcohol and drugs, to engage in risky sex, to cope with depression.

"In the entire realm of human experience," Miller writes, "there is no single factor that will protect your adolescent like a personal sense of spirituality." Continue reading

• Lisa Miller in New York Magazine

Lisa Miller is an American writer and journalist. She is currently a contributing editor for New York Magazine.

• I'm not in the Te Tai Tokerau electorate.
• I'm not Maori.
• I have no particular affinity towards Hone Harawira nor necessarily agree with most of what he says.

Hone Harawira however was a strong voice for the disadvantaged, particularly the poor.

His "Feed the Kids" campaign was a tangible example of his concern. Even during the election he protested very strongly to his own party, Internet Mana, at their plans to promote cannabis law reform at the expense of feeding kids.

"Why am I seeing all this shit about weed and so ……. little about feed," Hone Harawira wrote, rather ironically, in a leaked email. (But I digress.)

The Internet-Mana party quickly scrapped the cannabis policy.

Such is his passion, that in my view, the absence of Hone Harawira's voice will make the Parliament less representative and potentially the country less aware of some pressing social concerns.

The likelihood of Hone Harawira being part of any shade of government coalition was always going to be slim.

However it was from opposition that Hone Harawira's "Feed the Kids Bill" received the support of 70% of New Zealanders and got the Prime Minister to do something about supporting food in schools.

There is no excuse for even 2,000 New Zealand children to be living in poverty. That there are more than 200,000 New Zealand children living in severe poverty is a disgrace.

Let's face it, the Internet-Mana party is probably more a "flashmob" than a long-term political party, it may last for an even shorter time than the most optimistic pundits allowed.

I think it's sad, Hone Harawira, a champion voice for the disadvantaged will no longer be heard in our Parliament, however that's the system.

Hone Harawira's voice was credible when he spoke up for the poor, however he came unstuck; trading his credibility for the promise of money.

We are only as good as the friends we choose, or as The Beatles put it 50 years ago, "Money can't buy me love".

Fighting Child Poverty

In early August, more than 1,000 people packed St Paul's Anglican Cathedral in Wellington for a Catholic and Anglican initiative to hear politicians address child poverty.

The meeting expressed concern about low incomes, gambling, alcohol, inadequate housing and debt. Archbishop Dew called on all politicians to make child poverty their top priority.

Archbishop Dew also said that child poverty is not just something for politicians to fix but something for the whole community to do something about.

True enough.

There are many ways to fight child poverty and they don't always just involve the Government opening the tax payers' wallet. But without the constant reminders from the likes of Hone Harawira, who will focus us to do something about it?

As they say, you can tell a lot about a society from the way it treats its most vulnerable.

- John Murphy is a Marist priest working in digital media at the Marist Internet Ministry, New Zealand.

School refusal can occur at any time during a young person's schooling, however it is more likely to occur during high school. An Australian study prepared by Youth Support Coordinators highlights the increased likelihood of school refusal during periods of transitions, such as the move from primary to high school or the move from one school to another (2009). Australian research suggests that up to 9% of school population may experience school refusal at some point in time (Withers, 2004).

There can be multiple factors contributing to school refusal among children. Two significant factors appear to be experiences of anxiety and bullying (Kearney, 2007). Anxiety often manifests as physical symptoms, such as headaches and nausea, which can make it difficult for parents to distinguish whether their child's complaint is medical or psychological in nature. Seeking medical advice and monitoring the timing of physical complaints can help discern the nature of the complaints. Being bullied at school is also another major contributor to children becoming fearful of school and thus attempting to avoid school (The Monash School Refusal Program). Other common factors include:

• Difficulty in peer relationships
• Fear/difficulties with teachers
• Transition to high school
• Family stress
• Traumatic life event
• Academic problems

Warning signs that may indicate school refusal

At school

• Frequent and unexplained absences from school
• Frequent lateness to school
• Absences on significant days (e.g., days on which tests or specific classes are scheduled)
• Frequent requests to go to sick bay
• Frequent requests to call home or to go home during the day

In the home

• Complaints of physical symptoms when getting reading for school, e.g. headaches
• A reluctance or refusal to get dressed for school
• Negative comments about school
• A reluctance to talk openly about their experiences at school Continue reading

Sources

• Essential Kids
• Image: Herald Sun