A nighttime stroll through the posh streets of Vasant Vihar in Delhi or the iconic lanes of Connaught Place feels different today. Children of the Gen-Z and Gen Alpha era do not simply hang out with each other, as people of previous generations.
Young people are recording reels. Boys and girls are showing off their dance skills, moving in sync with loud music from small speakers. Lights are set up at perfect angles, all focused on a mobile screen. They record take after take, until the perfect shot is captured. It shows how much our world has changed.
At first, I confess, I swelled with pride thinking, “We millennials are built different. We’re not like the TikTok-driven Gen Z or the lingo-inventing Gen Alpha.”
I justified myself by saying we use social media to connect with Facebook communities, to keep up with news, or to follow fun trends. But then my daughter asked, “Well, you record stuff too—why do you do it?”
It was an “out of the mouth of babes” kind of epiphany for me. Her question left me speechless and led me to self-reflection. I wondered, “How is my Instagram any different from the younger generation I am scorning?”
Our phones do not create new desires in us. They feed and amplify the ones already in our hearts.
As James writes,“Each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed” (James 1:14). That is how social media algorithms work. They do not tell us what to desire. They feed the cravings already in our hearts and reinforce them until they become habits. This is not a Gen-Z problem. It is a human heart problem.
The World Gen-Z Entered
From Australia to parts of Europe, governments have tried to ban social media. The critically acclaimed British TV series, ‘Adolescence’ has been getting attention for showcasing how digital culture shapes adolescent psychology. Though people characterise Gen-Z as lazy and frivolous, nationwide protests have rocked Nepal, triggered by a national ban on numerous social media platforms.
But the influence of digital culture is not new.
Every generation has been shaped by its tools: Boomers had the radio, Gen-X grew up with cable TV, millennials with the internet and personal computers. Gen-Z entered a world full of smartphones and social media.
Parenting Gen-Z and Gen Alpha
The most powerful strategy for parenting Gen-Z and Gen Alpha is not control. It is testifying to Jesus and modelling a life rooted in his love.
Our children watch us closely. They see their grandparents scrolling through Facebook, their parents sharing on Instagram or X, and then hear those same adults urging them to spend less time on screens. Kids can sense the inconsistency immediately.
Our calling as Christian parents goes deeper than simply making rules. What speaks louder is the life we live before them. If we long for them to use technology in a godly way, it begins with showing them what that looks like. It starts with our habits, choices, and godly example.
Unveiling the Beauty of Life in Christ
Much of what Gen-Z watches or listens to—through streaming platforms, shows, movies, video games, or music—quietly shapes a worldview that can turn them away from Christ. Even if it does not look harmful on the surface, it can have a negative influence on their minds.
What seems “catchy” or “trendy” can slowly dull our hearts to what is holy. But parents need not live in fear or act out of anxiety. We do not need to keep up with every new app, check their internet history, or monitor every chat. All that can feel exhausting—like going to war with our own children.
Instead, we can rest in the promise: “My grace is sufficient for you” (2 Cor. 12:9).
In parenting Gen-Z and Gen Alpha, here is what we need to know. They need a vision of what is beautiful, not only warnings about what is harmful. We do not need to only show them the dangers of the world. We need to unveil the beauty of life in Christ.
Following Jesus is not about restriction. It is about stepping into a richer, fuller life. In him, they can find deeper joy than entertainment, richer community than online connections, and greater purpose than any passing trend.
Practical Parenting Steps
When parents live joyfully in Christ—through small daily choices and big life decisions—we show our children where to find true happiness. Here are some practical ways to do that.
1. Be Aware
Start early and pay close attention to the content available to your children. Do not assume that a random animation with a catchy song on YouTube is harmless. Ask what ideas and thought patterns it may be shaping.
As they grow, help them analyse and critique what they watch. Keep learning alongside them about what is happening in the world. From the beginning, be curious and patiently make room for those tough but necessary conversations.
2. Read Together
For younger children, nurture a love for reading early. When a three-year-old delights in hearing mama or papa read aloud, they learn that books and shared moments are more joyful than screens.
When my children were little, I often took their education outdoors. I packed books and lunch, and we spent the day running, playing, and enjoying nature. This way, we could go weeks without the demand, “ Can we watch something, please?”
3. Give Space and Walk Alongside
Do not assume your children will never encounter the dark corners of the digital world. Resist being in denial about how dark it can get online. Instead, talk to your children and walk with them. Step into their world as a wise companion, not an overbearing policeman. Watch a short video with them, play a game, or laugh over a reel together. Such moments open up conversations, build trust, and help them connect their experiences with your family’s values and faith.
4. Stay Rooted in Church
A godly community is vital for the health of your children. They need spaces to grow in faith, to serve with their gifts, and to build friendships that build them up, rather than tear them down. A godly community of believers gives them the confidence of not standing alone against the tide, especially in their formative years.
5. Parent with Friends
Resist walking the parenting journey alone. As the saying goes, “It takes a village to raise a child.” This is not only true postpartum, it’s true all through their lives. Parenting feels lighter when we share the burden of responsibility with one another.
My husband and I are blessed with friends who are also raising children of a similar age. We share our struggles, pray together, and encourage one another. Their experiences prepare us for the stages ahead. Their honesty keeps us dependent on God.
When they open up about their struggles in vulnerability, it humbles me. It reminds me that I, too, can abide in Christ when I feel overwhelmed or inadequate. And together, we can walk this journey together in prayer.
Fix Your Eyes on Jesus
Though social media and technology bring real challenges, none of them are beyond God’s wisdom or authority. If today we fear social media, tomorrow it will be AI, and after that, something else. Fear will always wear another mask and keep coming around. But God’s promise stands firm: “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you” (Ps. 32:8).
So, in parenting Gen-Z and Gen Alpha, let us keep our eyes fixed on the unchanging nature of Jesus—the author and perfecter of our faith; not on the ever-changing tides of technology.
