As teens enter, ask them to name their best subject in school. Where do they feel the smartest and most capable? Once everyone is settled ask:
- Do you feel pressure to be “smart”? From whom? Why do you think that is? (Accept all reasonable answers.)
- What if I were to ask the same question, but replace “smart” with “wise”? Would your answer be the same? Why or why not? (Answers will vary.)
- What does it mean to be wise? (Accept all reasonable answers.)
Our culture certainly values being smart, but wisdom is something we look for too, especially when it comes to navigating complicated decisions. One decision that’s complicated for many families is how to let their children use social media. While it’s smart for parents to set guidelines that work for their families, it requires wisdom to know what those healthy guidelines are.
Let’s watch the following video to hear several professionals talk about the factors for families to consider.
Share the following video [stop at 3:22; stop at 2:55]:
Surgeon General warns of social media danger to mental health
- Parents aren’t the only ones having to discern what healthy social media use looks like. What do students using social media need wisdom for? (They will need to decide who to follow, how to interact with others, how to use it in a healthy way, etc.)
- What possible sources could students or families look to for wisdom around social media? (Answers will vary; might include: studies about the effects of social media, mental health experts, etc. Accept all reasonable answers.)
There are lots of places we can turn to for wisdom around using social media, but true wisdom comes only from God. In today’s study, we’ll see what true wisdom really is and how we can be wise in God’s eyes.