USA (MNN)—Every major technological advancement—from the wheel, to the printing press, to the phones in our pockets today—creates an impact. As new tech takes shape, it shapes the way we as humans work, play, learn, and relate to others—even God. These impacts can create noticeable differences between generations, which are even more obvious during our time of exponential technological advancement.
“Gen Alpha and Gen Z—they’re clearly living in a video-first world,” remarks Greg Yoder of Keys for Kids.
According to a recent report, YouTube commands 78% of viewership among U.S. children aged 2-12 and is the most popular of media platforms, especially among younger viewers—87% of children aged 2-5, 74% of children aged 6-9, and 68% of those aged 10-12 prefer YouTube. Research also shows frequent binge-watching behaviors and growth in short-form content, as younger generations increasingly turn to social media apps as search tools.
Yoder notes that Keys for Kids, which produces and distributes resources to evangelize and disciple kids and their families, is paying attention to these trends.
“They get all the information in a short-term video shape, and it shapes the way they learn, it shapes the way they search for things, how they decide what’s worth their attention. So, for Keys for Kids Ministries, that means that we need to show up where they are.”
He says the ministry’s goal is not to chase trends, but to communicate eternal truth in ways younger generations will notice, such as more short-form videos.
“So more visual storytelling, more platform-native content is something that we’re going to be doing—but we really need to make sure that we see this kind of content as a doorway and not a destination,” says Yoder. “The written devotional content still has a deep place because it slows a young person down and it helps them reflect on Scripture or the Bible rather than just scroll past it, so I don’t think it’s an either-or.”
He also notes the danger that comes in trying to reduce the Gospel itself into short-form content.
“The gospel is simple enough for a child to understand like that, but it’s not shallow. We need to be bathed in God’s word. We need to abide in Him, and abiding in Him doesn’t mean 30 to 90 seconds. Discipleship is long-form. Short-form content is an excellent way of sparking curiosity, maybe answering one question or pointing a kid to Jesus, but it can’t replace scripture. It can’t replace conversation.”
For parents who want to disciple their children but aren’t sure where to start, Keys for Kids offers devotions for kids and teens available on their app, as well as other resources. Go to keysforkids.org to learn more.
Header photo courtesy of Keys for Kids.
