Over Thanksgiving I’ve been reading an eye-opening book called The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt, a prominent social psychologist who has been studying the effects of the digital revolution for decades. If you recall, last year we did a church-wide series called Digital Detox that unearthed many of my concerns with the unintended and spiritually dangerous consequences of digital technology. You can access the series and many resources here https://brandywine.church/digitaldetox
Haidt, while not a Christian, is tuned into the digital epidemic more than most Christians. He recently wrote an article that I believe is a “must read” for all Christians, particularly if you are a parent, grandparent, teacher, leader or influencer among teens and younger. The article, The Devil’s Plan to Ruin the Next Generation, is behind a “pay wall”, but I believe it’s worth the investment. In response to his article, I wrote this pastoral reflection.
Every generation faces unique challenges, but according to Haidt, the one before us is unlike anything we’ve seen. The most chilling part of his article? Haidt didn’t begin with theology—he began by asking an AI model, “If you were the devil, how would you destroy the next generation without them even knowing it?”
The answers were telling: “I wouldn’t come with violence. I’d come with convenience.”
“I’d keep them busy. Always distracted.” “They’d call it freedom.”
What struck Haidt is that this imagined “devil” perfectly described what is already happening. Not through dramatic, visible attacks, but through the subtle corrosion of the digital world, one swipe at a time. While Haidt may not believe in a real spiritual being called “the devil,” we do. The devil has been opposing God’s plan and seeking to “kill, steal and destroy” from the beginning. (John 10:10) As followers of Jesus, we know we have a real enemy who comes “not with a pitchfork, but as an angel of light” (2 Corinthians 11:14)—appearing attractive, entertaining, empowering, even harmless. Technology has simply become one of the most effective delivery systems.
As described in his article and decisively proven through the research laid out in his book, beginning around 2012—when smartphones and social media saturated teen life—rates of anxiety, depression, loneliness, and the feeling that “life is meaningless” skyrocketed. Consider the seven ways Haidt describes this “invisible corrosion”:
- Attention eroded by constant stimulation
- Identity confused by endless comparison
- Information abundant, wisdom scarce
- Relationships replaced by shallow digital substitutes
- Discipline undermined by dopamine-driven indulgence
- Trust fractured between generations
- Everything commodified, even things meant to be sacred
None of this happens overnight. That’s the danger. It is slow, silent and culturally accepted.
But here’s the hope: The devil’s strategies are not unstoppable. They are resistible. And the Church—rooted in truth, community, worship, Scripture and presence—is uniquely positioned to push back. As I said in my sermon on Sunday, “Take heart, the war is already won!” We do not need to fight FOR victory but FROM victory. As Christians who care about the next generation, we need to remember there is no neutral ground in the universe. We pray for our children and grandchildren. We seek opportunities to love, care for, and support them. We encourage and exhort them. We welcome them into the multi-generational family of God and cheer them on when we see the fruit of the spirit in them.
And we also do not shy away from setting boundaries, even when it comes with a social cost, if it’s for their long-term flourishing. Haidt ends his article with some other practical steps for families: delay smartphones, delay social media, create phone-free schools, reclaim unstructured real-world play and responsibility.
But we, as God’s people, must also add the spiritual dimension: teaching kids to hear God’s voice, not just the world’s; immersing them in the story of Scripture, not the story of social media; cultivating attention for prayer, presence and worship; and giving them real community marked by love, purpose and identity in Christ.
I’m so grateful for our amazing Brandywine Kids and Students ministries that embody these values that push back against the devil’s schemes. While our next generation kids and teens are not immune to the schemes of the enemy and the social pressure in the digital world, they are armed with the weapons to fight back and fight for their spiritual, emotional, and social well-being together.
Parents, grandparents, mentors and church family—this is our moment. Not to panic. Not to shame. But to shepherd wisely and courageously. The next generation doesn’t need perfection from us; they need presence, boundaries and a compelling vision of a life filled with meaning, truth and real connection.
May the Lord give us wisdom as we navigate this ever-changing technological landscape together.
Your Lead Pastor,
Nate Keeler