Did You Know?

He warns that unchecked technology risks concentrating power, hollowing out the middle class, and normalizing automated warfare. The Pope stresses that AI is not inherently evil but requires strict moral oversight and regulation. The whole evolving discussion about ‘unchecked technology’ needs to include the use of screen time, especially for kids and young adults. The French psychiatrist, Serge Tisseron, has developed a parenting framework to help families set healthy boundaries for children’s screen time and technology use. It is called the “3-6-9-12 Rule” and offers age milestones and guidelines. It outlines four progressive milestones: 1) Before Age 3, avoid all screen exposure, except for occasional video calls with family. Young children need real-world sensory play and human interaction to build healthy brain foundations. 2) Age 6: No personal video games or private tablets. Any digital media use should be limited, educational, and shared or monitored in common family spaces. 3) Age 9: No unsupervised or unaccompanied internet access. Children should be encouraged to explore online tools and basic web searching, but only with active parental guidance. 4) Age 12: Delay social media use and independent digital behavior. When social platforms are used, parents should have clear limits and ongoing safety discussions. This is Tisseron’s “3-6-9-12 Rule” in brief and is gaining wide usage throughout the world in assisting parents to establish a healthy framework for screen use/safety. The Church has in place clear and firm guidelines for the protection and safety of children (and vulnerable adults) for any and all “church events”. “Screen safety” issues have become more and more of a concern and we are taking some important steps to help our families in this area! Deacon Bill, our Youth Ministry lead, and our Religious Education Director, Genevieve Rivera, have scheduled the first “ScreenStrong” presentation for the Life Teen parents and Teens next Sunday, 30 August during the Life Night from 6:30 - 8:00 pm. Parents, please mark your calendars! Genevieve Rivera will present it to the Middle School parents on Tuesday, 8 September from 6:30 - 8:00 pm. Parents, please mark your calendars! Further presentations will be scheduled for the parents of our children in Faith Formation and our Confirmation students and families in the next few months. The safety of our children must be a priority for all of us, and includes not just their physical safety, but their psychological, emotional and spiritual well-being!