Influencers

Many kids regularly watch the same people on YouTube and other social media. These influencers can affect what kids want to buy, what interests them and how they think. Your kids may repeat advice or opinions from someone they watch without questioning whether it is true. Knowing who they follow can help you understand what is influencing them.

In this week’s Brite lesson, kids learn about Pentecost, when God sent the Holy Spirit to His followers. The Holy Spirit is our Helper. We don’t have to figure out how to follow Jesus on our own. God Himself helps us understand His Word and make wise choices. His guidance is trustworthy, even when other people’s advice is not.

Ask your kid to show you a few videos from their favorite channels. Watch together and ask, “What do you like about this person?” and “Have they said anything you weren’t sure about?” Talk about whether what you hear lines up with God’s truth or not. Help your kid see that someone can be funny or popular without being right about everything. Remind them that they can ask the Holy Spirit for help knowing whom to listen to and what to believe.

Here’s how we discussed this topic and how you can discuss it at home: 

Discuss: Who are some people on YouTube® that are really popular with kids your age?

Discuss: Do kids closely follow what these influencers say? Why?

Discuss: What do you think God has to say about that?

Say: Sometimes the people we watch in videos give us great advice about video games or really cool toys to check out. But we can’t always assume what they say is true. Sometimes they may talk about things that are different from what the Bible says and how God wants us to live. The Holy Spirit guides us, teaches us and even reminds us when we do something wrong. It is wise for us to trust in Him way more than we trust in influencers on YouTube. He will guide us to truth if we seek to follow Him. As we watch videos, we can ask the Holy Spirit to help us know what is true and what isn’t.