By Mark Naito
Referencing the article from Fox News by Madison Colombo that was published on March 27, 2026. The headline on the article was “Meta vows to ‘aggressively’ fight after landmark verdicts find tech giant liable for addicting kids.”
“Los Angeles jury found both Meta and Google liable for designing their products to make young people addicted. The plaintiff, known as KGM, testified that she became addicted to social media as a child and that it worsened her mental health struggles.”
I think it’s safe to say our culture has done a great job finding someone or something to blame for the addictiveness or bad habits created by technology (screens). But what ownership do we have?
Yes, Meta and Google are not helping our choices in life, but is it up to us to make better choices? Yes. Instead of relying on platforms that mainly have rumors instead of truth or facts – whether it’s a conservative platform or a liberal one – why don’t we go to in-person professionals in different industries, physically published journals, books, etc.?
Stop and consider where most of your information comes from these days. Whether it’s at work, school, home or wherever, is it online or physically published somewhere?
Think about this… I am writing a book, and there are many layers of editing that take place before it will be published and printed through a major publisher like HarperCollins. But something published on the internet does not necessarily have the layers of people to edit the content.
Why?
Because we all know that things on a screen or virtual document can be pulled, removed or edited at any time versus a paper copy that is printed, and once in the hands of the owner will no longer be removed from distribution.
What can you do then with your kids and things like social media or Google? Some ideas:
Teach them by example how much more meaningful in-person interactions are over virtual ones. And provide them safe options like church activities, having their friends over to your house to do screen-free things like going for a walk together, maybe helping a neighbor with some much-needed care, playing games like Ungame, going to Hobby Lobby and finding something to do together, etc.
Rhea Zakich, the founder of the Ungame – which has sold more than four million copies and helped many people communicate key emotions in a healthier way – reviewed our Reset Tech Kit and said this, “I share your concern about the younger generation being so dependent on their phones and the kind of connection it gives them with friends – and often with people who aren’t their friends. Of course, many parents [are guilty of this] too. It seems we’ve forgotten how to communicate face-to-face. Many children and adults have what I call ‘plastic relationships’, with texting, email, social media, etc. There’s no heart-to-heart or spirit-to-spirit connection.”
Zakich recognizes, as a pioneer in communicating emotions through a game, that we’ve lost one of God’s key creation designs: in-person relationships without screens. Also, don’t bring a phone, tablet, computer or screen to a conversation – just bring you.
The thing you will find most appealing is that the whole family will start building new, healthier relationships. Instead of texting, instant messaging, commenting on posts, etc., you will find yourself making new friends. You might receive extra benefits based on your in-person relationships, and you might find grace with the person at the DMV by befriending him or her.
Recently, I spoke at a Las Vegas homeschool conference, and the message of choosing relationships over screens was so popular that two organizations wanted us to lead additional workshops around this theme. People are hungry to get back to the basics but just don’t know how, because technology is pushed on us every day.
I’m going to repeat what I’ve said before in other columns… At the end of life, no single person transitioning from this world says anything other than they want to spend more time with certain people or reconcile with them. The loved ones in your life don’t ultimately care about anything else but your undivided attention in person.
One other example I came across was from a therapist I work with in the Treasure Valley. She said a young client took a toy that resembled him or her and put it face down to a smartphone. Why? Because the child wanted to be that smartphone in order to have more time with parents.
Wow!
Someday soon technology will be integrated into our bodies. Businesses and government departments are already working on this. So now is the time to find ways to be less dependent on tech so you truly have a choice when that time comes. The bonus is you will have a stronger relationship with God, your family, and others you love, with fewer distractions.
I can promise you that spending less time on screens versus more time on relationships will never be a bad investment. We were created to live that way. God bless and don’t miss the life God has given you by getting caught up with endless content – even good content.
Mark Naito is passionate about helping people by seeking ‘root cause’, providing result-oriented solutions and good outcomes. His passion has always been to empower others to be educated to make their own informed decisions on what makes sense for themselves or their families. He started Navigating Tech Family toward that goal. He is a family man with a beautiful wife and kids and loves doing life with his family in the outdoors. He may be reached at mark@navtechfam.com.
