5 ways parents can help their kids be good citizens in polarised times

In a world of TikTok news and heated debates, Nesu Kwaramba believes that Christian parents have a unique opportunity to help children become thoughtful, gracious, and hope-filled citizens

For some months now, we’ve been running a segment called ‘Unplugged’ during one of our weekday sessions at our youth club. During Unplugged, with phones switched off and gentle instrumental music playing in the background, we choose to reflect on a particular idea or thought for a few moments, inviting young people to share their thoughts and allow their often-busy minds to slow down and consider what is shaping their thinking. It’s a healing space; and it is intended to be a detox from a saturated and charged online arena. Conversations have at times been so fruitful and helpful for the young people (we thank God!).

Many in the youth group I help with get their news from the Tik Tok pages of news outlets like the Sun or the Daily Mail, or from GB News, or their google feed

Recently, I brought a newspaper to the session for a discussion on global responsibility and was stunned by how the exchange exploded when we talked about the recent local elections in May. When one young person – characteristically timid and reserved – mentioned that he supported Reform UK, it all kicked off! He was accused of being a racist and three girls stormed out of the room. I was delighted to see this usually self-contained teenager share his perspective quite confidently (and defend it so calmly), but I was displeased to witness the level of vitriol he was subjected to – quite apart from whether I agreed with his political opinion. So much for this being a healing space! Or maybe this is just what we needed as a group, to have this unyielding and unaccommodating attitude – which mirrors much of what can be seen at present in society – unmasked.

Deep division, daily

‘Polarised times’ is how our current cultural moment was described at the recent annual, Youthscape/ St Mellitus College lecture. This lecture came two days after thousands gathered in the UK’s capital for two opposing marches. The Tommy Robinson’s Unite the Kingdom march, and the Nakba 78 pro-Palestine march both took place on 16^th of May. The former, a glaring exhibition of the gaining momentum of far-right politics; the latter an outcry against the perceived dangers of the former – as well as a reminder of the diverse demographic that that now forms the United Kingdom, many of whom come from distant lands they still hold close.

perhaps it is unremarkable that young people would mirror the corrosive and polemic attitudes that surround controversial topics

In reality, the marches function as a microcosm of the global cultural landscape at large – a world that is now characterised by extremely strong, divisive opinions. This is all fuelled by the ease with which unfiltered thoughts can be broadcast publicly so that young people are constantly besieged by opinions online.

Many in the youth group I help with get their news from the Tik Tok pages of news outlets like the Sun or the Daily Mail, or from GB News, or their google feed. So, perhaps it is unremarkable that ……