Raising Kids While the World Falls Apart Around You

I don’t know about you, but lately, every single day makes me question, “WHAT THE HECK IS GOING ON?!” There’s always some new, terrible event, whether political or not. TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and all the other platforms created for connecting with other people have turned into platforms for never-ending arguments and aggression. Some days, I can’t even fathom all the information: this bad thing happened, this politician said this, this politician did this, this war here is doing this, this natural disaster happened here, these people are protesting this, people are getting sick and blaming one thing while some are blaming some other thing. Raising kids while the world falls apart around you is hard. Sometimes, I feel like I can’t catch my breath. And then I look at my kids and feel such grief for them as they are growing up in a completely unstable world and a confused society. 

When the World Changed

I was nine years old when I witnessed my first catastrophic world event. My grandpa had called my mom, and my mom turned pale like a ghost. The TV was turned on, and my siblings and I watched in horror as we saw people falling/jumping from the Twin Towers that were burning and on their way to collapse. We lived in a different country, but the terror rattled nations around the world. I remember wishing, hoping, and praying that this was a bad dream and the world would go back to its simplistic self. But it didn’t; the world kept getting worse from there. Or so it seemed. 

I was fourteen when I got my first social media account, Myspace. There was something magical about personalizing your page, adding your favourite photos, and including your favourite song for people to hear when they popped on your page. It was new, fun, and exciting, a platform for connecting with friends and showing the side of you that you wanted people to see. Fast forward to today, there are twenty or more social media platforms to choose from; each appears to have its purpose of connection, yet you can see hate and disagreement seeping through the cracks on each platform. This brings me back to my original point: Raising kids while the world falls apart around you. 

Our Children Are Growing Up in a Digital Era

See, our world isn’t the same. Our youth aren’t the same; how could they possibly be? My children have grown up in a digital era. While there are many wonderful parts of the digital era, like connecting with friends, having research right at your fingertips, and the ability to learn whatever you want, whenever you want, there are also major red flags going up all around us that we can’t ignore. If you feel overwhelmed by the events happening in the world today and the constant spinning motion of social media, imagine how your kids feel. Many children from the Alpha Generation have been raised with iPads, tablets, and smartphones. They don’t know a life without technology. And truly, technology isn’t the problem here; it’s the way that it is being used. 

Unfortunately, while there are amazing aspects to the internet (like the ability to write and send out a blog to the universe for someone halfway around the world to read), there are also many terrible attributes, like the fact that many people use the internet to spread hate, fear, and danger. It hurts me to know that my kids know of such hate, misery, anxiety and being overwhelmed. I would love to jump in a time machine back to the 90s when I was growing up and give my kids the opportunity to have a wholesome childhood. One without screens (except that super huge desktop computer with the floppy disks), one without hate seeping through social media platforms and into our reality. 

Statistics About Social Media Use in Adolescents

In April 2024, Instagram boasted that they have 2 billion monthly active users, making up about 20% of the world’s internet users. As of early 2025, X is estimated to have 650 million monthly active users, with daily active users ranging between 240 and 300 million. A study by Pew Research Center found that 95% of teens report using a social media platform, with 35% saying they use social media “almost constantly.” The same study highlighted platform preferences for teens: YouTube was shown to have been used by 95% of teens, TikTok was used by 67%, Instagram 62%, Snapchat 59% and Facebook 32%. On average, U.S. teenagers report spending 4.8 hours per day on social media platforms. Do you see the issue? 

As I said, when I was nine years old, I watched a horrific historical event that left me rattled. But our kids today? They see horrific historical events on a weekly basis, if not more. There is no break. Unlike in 2001, when we could walk over and turn the TV off and try to regroup and cope with what occured, we have children swiping through chaos on a daily basis. And with most reporting spending 4.8 hours per day on social media, this makes it even more alarming. 

A Rise in Severe Impairment from Anxiety Among Our Youth

A study shows that in 1999, anxiety disorders were among the most common psychiatric conditions in the pediatric population, with prevalence rates ranging from 5% to 18%. Now, fast forward to our current times. The National Institute of Mental Health reports that approximately 31.9% of adolescents aged 13 to 18 have experienced an anxiety disorder, with 8.3% facing severe impairment. Do you know what 8.3% of 2,000,000 is? 1,660,000! Out of 2,000,000 children, 1,660,000 are facing severe impairment from anxiety. Does that shock you as much as it shocks me? 

So What’s Causing This Huge Anxiety Crisis Among Kids? 

Anxiety is often caused by a combination of factors, like genetics (if there is a family history of anxiety), stressful life events, traumatic experiences, bullying, major life changes, school pressure, family conflict, and even learning anxious behaviours from a parent or caregiver. And while we could list many more reasons that children are struggling with anxiety more today than ever before, we need to realize what the big players are here. Stressful life events, traumatic experiences, bullying, ALL of these are unfortunately what many children and youth encounter on the daily by way of their devices. The anxiety and trauma that you feel as an adult when you scroll through social media and see rumours of war, sickness, hate, and political agendas- your kids are experiencing this, too. 

During World War I and World War II, children had to live through exceptionally traumatic events, like a parent heading away to war, their families struggling financially, and having to work at a young age. But they weren’t constantly bombarded with what was going on. Yes, they were living in a different reality, BUT that reality wasn’t continually screaming in their face. They had the opportunity to “shut it off”, just like the TV in 2001. But kids today don’t have that same opportunity. Social media is constantly in their face. Bringing terror from another country to their bedroom, bringing someone else’s traumatic situation to their eyes, bringing hate and bullying from people they don’t even know. It’s a crisis. And one we need to address.

 

Guiding Our Kids Through the Chaos

The point is that feeling of “WHAT THE HECK IS GOING ON” that you may have frequently when the news reports another chaotic event. Imagine being your child and trying to process what is happening; imagine growing up in a world run by screens. It’s hard as parents raising kids while the world falls apart around us. This is why we need to work together to help our children with their current situations and guide them through the chaos that the world has provided for us to a place of peace for abundant futures. 

Supporting Our Kids Through Uncertain Times:

In a world that feels more overwhelming by the day, our kids are navigating pressures we never had to face at their age. Social media, unsettling news, and the weight of comparison at their fingertips 24/7. Our kids need more than just advice because how can we offer them advice when we don’t know what it’s like to grow up in a world like this? What our kids need is support, connection, and tools to help them navigate the world that we live in. 

Here Are Some Simple Ways That You Can Show Up For Your Kids in a World Full of Chaos: 

Listen Without Judgment:

Sometimes, our kids don’t need solutions. As parents, that can be hard to understand because we want to fix everything for our kids. But ultimately, our kids just need to be heard. Our beautiful children need a safe place where they can share their worries, frustrations, and fears without us rushing to fix them. 

Encourage Screen Breaks:

Create opportunities for time away from social media by inviting them to activities that keep them busy and active, like going for a walk, playing a game, or simply talking while you enjoy a snack. 

Provide Tools for Processing Big Feelings:

Journals, coloring books like “Breathe & Believe: Mindful Coloring Book for Kids, or guided mindfulness apps like Goldminds can give “children healthy outlets for expressing” what’s in their hearts. 

Mindfulness & Self-Care:

Kids learn by watching us. SO, take your own mental health seriously, and they’ll be more likely to do the same. How are you taking care of your mental health? Especially in a world that is constantly up and down?

Talk About the Overwhelming News Exposure:

Talk to your kids about what’s happening without letting them drown in headlines. Help them process the information in age-appropriate ways. 

Helping Your Child Process Information in Age-Appropriate Ways: 

• For young Children (ages 4-7), keep it simple and reassuring:

1. Focus on what directly affects them. For example, “There are people working hard to help others when something bad happens.” 
2. Answer only what they ask: Let their questions guide how much detail you give
3. Emphasize safety and kindness: Highlight the helpers, doctors, firefighters, or volunteers.

• Older Children (Ages 8-12)

1. Be honest but gentle: use simple language to explain big topics without too many graphic details.
2. Ask them what they already know: Correct misinformation they might have picked up from friends. 
3. Empower them: Suggest small ways they can help, like donating to a cause or writing a kind letter. 

• Teens (Ages 13+): 

1. Have open conversations: Ask their thoughts and feelings about what they’ve seen. 
2. Encourage critical thinking: Help them question the source of information and understand bias.
3. Balance the Negative with Positive Stories: Show them that good things are happening in the world, too, but people often focus on the negative. 
4. Teach coping skills: Discuss with your teens when to take breaks from news or social media if it’s making them anxious. 

No matter their age, the most important thing is to let them know it’s okay to feel upset and that you’re always there to talk. 

Raising Our Kids to Be the Best Version of Themselves

I wish I had some magic wand to make it a simpler time, to take away all the negative that the world is constantly throwing at us. But I don’t. What I do have is an understanding that you, as the parent, are not alone. Trying to raise our kids to be the best version of themselves in a world filled with chaos is challenging. Protecting them from the craziness around them is near impossible. But you are and will continue to provide them with a safe space where they can come and fill their cup. Where joy and peace are at the centre, and where they can feel safe to share what’s on their mind.