What can parents do to protect their children while online or using apps and social media?
If children are using a computer today, they will be exposed to sexually explicit images at some point even if they aren't looking for them. Because media and the internet are saturated with sexualized images and themes, discussing their proper use with our kids, who need our protection, is the first place to start.
- Develop trusting relationships with your kids.
- Nurture a life of virtue and prayer within them; pray as a family.
- Consider using monitoring and blocking software; these can help parents navigate the use of internet-capable devices, once a child is ready for them.
- Know what happens at school, their friends' homes, the library, etc.
Learn the facts about the dangers, make a plan, pray, and make your plan a reality for the sake of your children and their future.
Register for the free, 7-Day Safe Haven Challenge for Parents by texting SAFEKIDS to 66866.
For more resources like the Safe Haven Challenge visit our diocesan page at Clean Heart Online.
Clean Heart Online KCSJ Diocese Resources
For more information check out the Tools for Parents from the Family Life Office in the Diocese of Lincoln.
For resources and ideas on how to help your children, see the Parent's page at Integrity Restored.
Parent's page at Integrity Restored
Take our confidential survey "Is Your Family Safe?" and receive customized recommendations.
Read the Porn Harms Blog.
Porn Harms - Research contains a host of additional articles with the latest research and insights from brain science to relationship studies. It also includes amaster list of talking points like this one "Porn and Sexual Violence Research".
One of the best articles on this site is The Internet Pornography Pandemic: “The Largest Unregulated Social Experiment in Human History”.
Click here to read the pastoral response to the problem of pornography from the USCCB.
The subject of pornography may be triggering for some of you who may recall the painful events in our diocese or in your own experience with abuse. You may feel angry, frustrated, or unsure all over again. The Journey to Bethany community is here. With healing in mind, our website provides links to prayer and self-care resources. We also link to the diocese’s list of accused priests and statements from Bishop Johnston to promote transparency that can be helpful in healing. www.journeytobethany.org/be-informed. We are available any time if you just want to talk: 816-683-8999.
The Matt Fradd Blog has a host of articles from a very Catholic perspective. One of his best posts is "Overcoming Porn: Why Spiritual Advice Isn't Enough."
Integrity Restored has great articles for: