My Favorite Digital Parenting Things
Hey friends!
Ending my year so grateful for all the people creating incredible products and content to hold my hand on the digital parenting journey…so much new stuff since I started thinking about buying a smartphone for my oldest daughter six years ago. Here are some of my favorites resources as we journey into 2024! (Not being paid by any of these companies—just sharing because I’m grateful.)
xo, kb
Belongs in the “Organic Aisle“ of social media. No data-collection, no ads, no AI = meaningful, back-and-forth “tennis match” connections. Have LOVED introducing this to my teenagers and developing a “digital family room“ with them...and I‘ve noticed the more we use this app, the less we crave other, less healthy social media interactions.
Front and center on my homescreen. I’ve tried a lot of online devotionals and Bible reading programs...but the design of this one (not to mention the narrator’s British dialect) FORCES me to slow down and be present to the Lord. It’s like having crumpets with Jesus at the spa. Technology at its best.
As social media has become Gen Z‘s primary news source, it can be hard to help our kids filter current events through a truth-seeking, balanced lens. This podcast helps me make sense of a world in chaos. Super excited about their new mini-series Promised Land, which explores the moral, spiritual, and political challenges presented by the Israel-Hamas war.
With so many challenges facing today‘s teens, it‘s easy to retreat into tunnel vision, ruminating on one issue. (For me, it‘s smartphones and social media.) Kari has a way of pulling me out of the weeds and helping me see the big picture of my kids‘ hearts. Her wisdom has helped me navigate friendship shifts, dating and college transitions with my girls...and she has some great stuff for guys as well.
This weekly email is my back office for keeping up with Gen Z pop culture. Each Friday, they cover three top trends of the week, a note about why they matter to today's teens and tips on how to engage with my kids about them through the lens of the gospel. If I want to dive deeper, they have an amazing library of free resources for parents.
Honestly, it’s a tie between Gabb and Pinwheel phones - gimme all the “first phones.” But I especially love Pinwheel’s App Store. They’ve done the research on which apps might raise concerns and why, making it easy to decide which ones to say yes to. No social media apps, addictive games, or ad-driven apps.
This phone charging station sits on our kitchen counter, encouraging us all to put down our phones and recharge. There's an app that connects to the Aro Home device, measures the time you spend away from your phone, reminds you to take breaks from your phone, and shows you data to improve your phone habits.