Understanding the Tweens' Media World

The 8 to 12-year olds are often referred to as digital natives. They have been living in a media-saturated world their whole life, and most of them now have a smartphone, which gives them access to whatever message, whenever they want it. According to research, they spend more time immersed in media than they do sleeping. In the midst of many key issues, questions related to values, identity, and worldviews stand out as very important from a Christian perspective. Despite being digital natives, the tweens also need practical guidelines for living with the media. These challenges related to the tweens' media world need to be properly addressed by the Church.