From Comparison to Christ: Raising Girls in a Tech-Heavy World Part 2 | Chris McKenna | Ep. 29

Bethany and Adam welcome back Chris McKenna, founder of Protect Young Eyes, for another eye-opening conversation—this time diving into the growing anxiety and stress affecting today’s families, especially teenage girls.

Chris brings insights from leading researchers, whistleblower testimony, and his years of experience helping families navigate the digital world. Together, they unpack why social media hits young girls so hard, how it’s rewiring their brains, and what we can do to lead our homes with confidence and courage.

They talk about:

• Why are teen girls more vulnerable to social media than boys
• The “hockey stick” rise in self-harm and anxiety since 2012
• How apps mimic connection but leave girls feeling empty
• What brain scans are revealing about screen time and emotional health
• How to delay social media use without guilt
• Why real, in-person friendships are more powerful than any app
• What it looks like to raise kids on the truth of God’s Word—not on comparison culture

Bethany shares her own journey with social media, and Adam brings in a much-needed reminder: parents are the pilots of the home. You can make hard decisions. You can protect your kids. This episode is packed with hope, truth, and practical tools to help your family thrive in a tech-heavy world.

Guest Bio:

Chris McKenna: Founder, Protect Young Eyes, and President of The Better Tech Project non-profit. Chris is a respected digital safety voice, creating valuable and practical resources for families and schools. His impactful 2019 testimony before the US Senate initiated a series of hearings to further online child protection policy. Years of gritty effort earned PYE the 2020 Dignity Defense Award from the National Center on Sexual Exploitation and the 2024 Child Safety Award from The Phase Alliance. Recent state-level legislation co-authored by Chris - the Child Device Protection Bill - passed in Utah and moved through multiple chambers in six other states. It will force devices to enable existing content filters when activated by a minor. He is a technical advisor to Angel Kids AI and works closely with digital safety advocates and legislators to craft policies that reign in abusive technologies. As a representative of the Human Change Movement, Chris spoke at the 2024 and 2025 World Economic Forum.

Under his guidance, the Protect Young Eyes team conducts presentations worldwide to parents, professionals, and schools, and gained recognition by being featured in the Childhood 2.0 movie. Their website, courses, and private parent community show caregivers step-by-step how to prepare and protect their children in digital spaces. Chris cherishes family, including road trips with his four children, connecting with nature, running, romping with his pups, and almost anything sweet.

Resources:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/protectyoungeyes/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-mckenna-75962211/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/protectyoungeyes

Website: https://protectyoungeyes.com/

• Do these 3 things to get started: https://www.protectyoungeyes.com/start-here
• Learning: 5 Habits of a Tech-Ready Home on-demand course for parents. https://www.protectyoungeyes.com/course
• Community: The Table https://www.protectyoungeyes.com/the-table

The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt

Dr. Jim Winston (clinical psychologist on adolescent addiction)

Dr. Mitch Prinstein (Chief Science Officer, APA)

ScreenStrong – Research-backed support for tech-free kids

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