{"id":852293,"date":"2025-06-23T05:00:57","date_gmt":"2025-06-23T10:00:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/churchanswers.com\/?p=852293"},"modified":"2025-06-20T14:25:19","modified_gmt":"2025-06-20T19:25:19","slug":"how-smartphones-have-been-used-toward-a-torrent-of-cyberbullying","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/churchanswers.com\/blog\/how-smartphones-have-been-used-toward-a-torrent-of-cyberbullying\/","title":{"rendered":"How Smartphones Have Been Used Toward a Torrent of Cyberbullying"},"content":{"rendered":"

(Note: I am sharing four articles this month based on my upcoming book, <\/span><\/i>The Anxious Generation Goes to Church<\/span><\/i><\/a>. These articles focus specifically on the harm smartphones do to our young people. All data and statistics in these articles are supported in the book. In this third article, I summarize how smartphones have been used to inflict cyberbullying on young people. My book will be released from Tyndale on August 19, 2025.)<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

It used to be that bullies waited for the schoolyard. Not anymore.<\/span><\/p>\n

Today, the bullying follows our kids home. It follows them into their bedrooms. Into the night. Onto their screens. Into their hearts.<\/span><\/p>\n

The smartphone\u2014what many call a communication device\u2014has also become a megaphone for cruelty, a carrier for shame, and a tool for torment. With just a few taps, a teenager can be mocked, harassed, excluded, or humiliated\u2014sometimes by people they know, sometimes by people they don\u2019t.<\/span><\/p>\n

Let\u2019s not downplay what\u2019s happening. This isn\u2019t teasing. It\u2019s cyberbullying. And it\u2019s a torrent\u2014relentless, anonymous, and deeply damaging.<\/span><\/p>\n

A New Kind of Bullying<\/b><\/p>\n

Smartphones didn\u2019t invent bullying, of course. But they\u2019ve changed its nature.<\/span><\/p>\n

Before smartphones, bullying was limited by geography and time. The insults stopped when the bell rang or the bus ride ended. Now, there are no limits. The smartphone has made it possible for cruelty to be constant and boundless.<\/span><\/p>\n

Kids are attacked through group texts, fake profiles, comment sections, and viral videos. Humiliation can be captured, edited, and shared in seconds. It can spread through an entire school\u2014or the whole internet\u2014before a parent even knows it happened.<\/span><\/p>\n

And unlike a bruise or a black eye, this kind of bullying leaves no physical mark. But the emotional wounds cut deep. And the scars can last a lifetime.<\/span><\/p>\n

What the Research Tells Us<\/b><\/p>\n

The numbers are sobering. Nearly 60% of teenagers in the U.S. say they\u2019ve experienced some form of cyberbullying. Many report being called offensive names, being purposefully excluded from group chats, or having false rumors spread about them online.<\/span><\/p>\n

But beyond statistics, let\u2019s remember: every number is a story. Every percentage point is a person.<\/span><\/p>\n

A girl who cries herself to sleep because of a doctored photo that went viral.<\/span>
\n<\/span>A boy who deletes his social media accounts after months of ridicule.<\/span>
\n<\/span>A quiet teen who begins to believe the names they\u2019re being called.<\/span><\/p>\n

These are not hypothetical scenarios. These are real stories playing out in the lives of our students, including those in our pews.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Smartphone\u2019s Role<\/b><\/p>\n

Why has this become such a problem? Because the smartphone makes bullying easy.<\/span><\/p>\n

It gives bullies a powerful platform and a permanent presence. It allows them to say things they would never say face to face. It emboldens them with anonymity and distance. And perhaps worst of all\u2014it gives the bullying a long life span.<\/span><\/p>\n

What used to be a cruel comment whispered behind someone\u2019s back is now a screenshot shared a hundred times. What once might have faded in a day can now live online for years.<\/span><\/p>\n

The smartphone makes bullying not just possible, but persistent.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Mental Toll<\/b><\/p>\n

We cannot separate cyberbullying from the rising tide of anxiety and depression in our young people.<\/span><\/p>\n

Victims of online harassment are far more likely to suffer from emotional distress, low self-esteem, and suicidal thoughts. For some, the phone becomes a symbol of fear, not fun. Every vibration feels like a threat. Every notification brings a new wave of dread.<\/span><\/p>\n

And because teenagers are still forming their identity and resilience, these attacks cut especially deep. They\u2019re not just words. They become wounds.<\/span><\/p>\n

What Parents Often Miss<\/b><\/p>\n

Many well-meaning parents are unaware this is even happening. After all, their child still smiles at dinner. They still post selfies. They still show up at youth group.<\/span><\/p>\n

But behind that smile might be a screen full of insults. Behind that selfie might be a desperate cry for validation. Behind that presence at church might be a heart broken by what was said the night before.<\/span><\/p>\n

Cyberbullying is often silent and secretive. Parents and pastors must be vigilant and informed. Ask questions. Watch for changes in behavior. Look beyond the surface.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Church Must Respond<\/b><\/p>\n

If the smartphone is being used to tear down, the church must be a place that builds up.<\/span><\/p>\n

If the digital world speaks lies, we must speak truth. If teenagers are being told they are worthless, ugly, or unwanted, we must remind them they are fearfully and wonderfully made\u2014created in the image of a loving God.<\/span><\/p>\n

Our student ministries must not just entertain\u2014they must equip. Our youth leaders must not just chaperone\u2014they must shepherd. Our churches must not just assume students are okay\u2014they must ask, listen, and love.<\/span><\/p>\n

We may not be able to stop every cyberbully. But we can make sure our churches are sanctuaries\u2014safe places where students are seen, heard, and valued.<\/span><\/p>\n

The smartphone is not inherently evil. But in the wrong hands\u2014or even in inexperienced young hands\u2014it can become a weapon.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Our young people are under attack. And they\u2019re carrying the battlefield in their pockets. Let\u2019s be the ones who fight for them.<\/span><\/p>\n

The question is: will the church look away, or will we step into this digital darkness with light?<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"(Note: I am sharing four articles this month based on my upcoming book, The Anxious Generation Goes to Church. These articles focus specifically on the harm smartphones do to our young people. All data and statistics in these articles are supported in the book. 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These articles focus specifically on the harm smartphones do to our young people. All data and statistics in these articles are supported in the book. In this third article, I summarize how smartphones have been used to inflict cyberbullying on young people. My book will be released from Tyndale on August 19, 2025.)It used to be that bullies waited for the schoolyard. Not anymore. Today, the bullying follows our kids home. It follows them into their bedrooms. Into the night. Onto their screens. Into their hearts. The smartphone\u2014what many call a communication device\u2014has also become a megaphone for cruelty, a carrier for shame, and a tool for torment. With just a few taps, a teenager can be mocked, harassed, excluded, or humiliated\u2014sometimes by people they know, sometimes by people they don\u2019t. Let\u2019s not downplay what\u2019s happening. This isn\u2019t teasing. It\u2019s cyberbullying. And it\u2019s a torrent\u2014relentless, anonymous, and deeply damaging.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/churchanswers.com\/blog\/how-smartphones-have-been-used-toward-a-torrent-of-cyberbullying\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/churchanswers.com\/blog\/how-smartphones-have-been-used-toward-a-torrent-of-cyberbullying\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/churchanswers.com\/blog\/how-smartphones-have-been-used-toward-a-torrent-of-cyberbullying\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/churchanswers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Group-of-Young-Adults-Laughing-with-Smartphone.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/churchanswers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Group-of-Young-Adults-Laughing-with-Smartphone.png","width":1200,"height":628,"caption":"Group of Young Adults Laughing with Smartphone"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/churchanswers.com\/blog\/how-smartphones-have-been-used-toward-a-torrent-of-cyberbullying\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/churchanswers.com\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"How Smartphones Have Been Used Toward a Torrent of Cyberbullying"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/churchanswers.com\/#website","url":"https:\/\/churchanswers.com\/","name":"Church Answers","description":"","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/churchanswers.com\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/churchanswers.com\/#\/schema\/person\/47ecb0b82afa1c1b6a9d1003673d2e90","name":"Thom S. Rainer","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/churchanswers.com\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/a8c3ff1affa60c1a7bb88c4be178b40a86d32ab697f24a7e5802cc5875ab6eae?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/a8c3ff1affa60c1a7bb88c4be178b40a86d32ab697f24a7e5802cc5875ab6eae?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Thom S. Rainer"},"description":"With nearly 40 years of ministry experience, Thom Rainer has spent a lifetime committed to the growth and health of local churches across North America.","url":"https:\/\/churchanswers.com\/blog\/author\/thomrainer\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/churchanswers.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/852293","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/churchanswers.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/churchanswers.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/churchanswers.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/churchanswers.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=852293"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/churchanswers.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/852293\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":852298,"href":"https:\/\/churchanswers.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/852293\/revisions\/852298"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/churchanswers.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/852296"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/churchanswers.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=852293"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/churchanswers.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=852293"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/churchanswers.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=852293"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}