We used to leave the bullies—and their slander—on the playground.
But today’s kids don’t have that luxury.
Instead, they take all of it home—right in their pockets.
Through cell phones, laptops, and social media feeds, online slander has become one of the most devastating weapons used against our children. What was once limited to whispered gossip in hallways is now broadcast to the world—publicly, permanently, and often without consequence.
This isn’t just about bruised feelings or mean comments. For many young people, online slander affects their mental health, their faith, and even their future careers. Some are young entrepreneurs, influencers, or creators who are building platforms, starting businesses, or using their gifts to glorify God. And yet the digital world they live in often becomes a minefield of criticism, false accusations, and character assassination.
💔 It’s Not Just Talk — It’s Trauma
According to the CDC’s Youth Risk Behavior Survey, nearly 1 in 5 high school students has seriously considered suicide, and 1 in 10 has attempted it. Social media is increasingly cited as a contributing factor, particularly when online harassment, public shaming, or slander is involved.
A 2023 Pew Research study found that:
- 59% of U.S. teens have been bullied or harassed online
- 90% believe online harassment is a problem for people their age
- Girls and LGBTQ+ youth are particularly at risk, but any young person who stands out, succeeds, or speaks up can become a target
What once may have been a harsh comment in a lunchroom now becomes a viral post, a group chat campaign, revenge porn, or a reputation-damaging lie that spreads like wildfire.
🧠 From Phone Calls to Feed Refreshes
If you’re a parent or mentor over 40 (well, OK, over 50), you likely remember the days of:
- Rushing home from school to spend hours on the phone with the same people you just spent hours with at school
- Talking about the day’s drama — and moving on
- Feeling safe once you were home
That’s no longer the case.
Now, kids come home, open their laptops, and are often greeted by a barrage of cruel messages, vague posts aimed at them, screenshots taken out of context, or full-blown online takedowns. The schoolyard fight never ends—it follows them home. And then, the next day, they have to walk back into school and face it all over again, often in silence, while the cycle continues.
It’s also not just limited to peer-to-peer, though that can be the most devastating. But even worse, strangers, influencers, and entire communities can join in.
🙏 Why Christians Must Care
This isn’t just a technology problem—it’s a spiritual battle.
“Death and life are in the power of the tongue.” — Proverbs 18:21
“Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification…” — Ephesians 4:29
As believers, we are called to speak life. That applies offline and online. When we ignore or excuse slander—especially against children—we allow seeds of destruction to take root.
This also affects our values around family and calling. If a young person is working hard to build a small business, write music, share their faith online, or start a podcast, and they are torn down by lies or online cruelty… we must defend them.
They are not just “kids.” They are the next generation of leaders, creatives, and kingdom builders.
🛠 What Can Parents, Churches, and Mentors Do?
Here are a few ways we can stand in the gap:
- Pray first, pray often. Before reacting, posting, or confronting, cover your children in prayer. Ask God for discernment, protection, and wisdom as you guide them through a digital world that often contradicts biblical truth. God can change any circumstance, no matter how damaging or dark it seems. He is our defender and our help in time of trouble. So call on Him first. Teach them the truth about slander.
- Help children understand what slander is and how it differs from constructive feedback. I address this in my article, “The Truth About Online Reviews.” Equip your children with Scripture, not just popular slogans of the day.
- Monitor their digital world with discernment. Not in fear or control, but in wisdom. Ask, “What’s showing up in your feed? Who are you following? Who’s following you?” Our parents used to look in our closets and drawers; now we have to pay strict attention to our children’s computers.
- Model healthy online behavior. Your kids see what you post. Don’t engage in gossip, cancel culture, bullying, slander, or passive-aggressive online behavior yourself.
- Be their safe place. Make sure your home is a refuge from the noise. They should know they can come to you if they’re being targeted—and be believed.
- Encourage digital detoxes and boundaries. It’s not a weakness to step away. It’s strength. Teach them the value of quiet, prayer, and real connection.
- Affirm their identity and calling. Remind them they are fearfully and wonderfully made, and that no lie of the enemy can cancel God’s truth over their life.
🕊 A Final Word
Words matter, especially online. Our children are being shaped not just by what’s said to them, but by what’s said about them.
Let’s be the generation that chooses truth, love, and spiritual responsibility over clickbait, cruelty, and carelessness.
And let’s raise a generation that doesn’t run from slander but knows how to stand, forgive, and speak life in the face of it.