Government Age Gating Cell Phone Use: Who Forms Our Kids, Parents or Policy?

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As states across the country move to restrict minors' access to social media, a deeper question emerges: Why does the government feel the need to step in at all? In this episode of Facing the Dark, Dr. Kathy Koch and Wayne Stender explore the growing wave of age-gating laws, parental consent requirements, and outright bans, and what they reveal about childhood, conscience, and cultural formation. Together, they unpack the tension between external guardrails and internal virtue, the developmental realities kids face online, and why laws may slow harm but can't form wisdom. Drawing on research, real parenting scenarios, and a biblical framework, this conversation equips parents to move beyond fear or passivity and toward intentional formation, helping kids learn discernment, self-control, and identity at home, long before a constable ever has to step in. If you're navigating screens, laws, and the pressure of modern parenting, this episode will give you clarity, courage, and practical next steps.