Helping Kids Find Their Identity Before the Internet Does (Special Podcast Highlight)

Ever feel like your kids are being raised by TikTok instead of you?  Well, you’re not crazy. Dr. Nicholas Kardaras, an expert on digital addiction and author of Glow Kids and Digital Madness, is here to explain just how much technology is hijacking our kids' sense of identity.   The Big Takeaway: Tech Is Raising Our Kids   Timmerie and Dr. Kardaras detail how kids develop their identity.:   🔹 Ages 0-2: Babies think they’re the same person as Mom.  🔹 Ages 2-10: Kids start forming their own sense of self, largely based on their parents. 🔹 Ages 10+: Friends become the biggest influence… except today, “friends” = TikTok influencers, YouTubers, and random internet people.    The Tech Takeover   Back in the day, kids looked up to real people they actually knew: parents, teachers, coaches. Now, they’re spending 9-13 hours a day online, being shaped by influencers, many of whom are struggling with their own identity issues.   Used to be: “I wanna be like that athlete!” Now: “I wanna be like a YouTuber who eats ghost peppers for a living.”    And the scariest part? Parents often have NO IDEA who their kids are following or what values they're absorbing. Unlike past celebrities, today’s influencers are constantly in their faces, shaping their views on everything: gender, morality, success, even posture and clothing.   The Solution: Build Identity Before the Internet Does   Dr. Kardaras says that kids need a strong foundation before they get swallowed by the digital vortex. The key? Faith, family, and real-world activities.   Family time: Kids need real human connection, not just screen time. Faith formation: A relationship with God gives them an identity rooted in truth, not social media trends.  Sports & Hobbies: Teamwork, discipline, and purpose keep them grounded.   If they don’t have these things in place early, they’re much more vulnerable to the “influencer identity trap,” where they start imitating people they’ve never even met.    The Bottom Line   Your kids are going to be influenced by someone. The question is: who’s calling the shots? If you don’t help them build a rock-solid sense of self, the internet will do it for you.    So, start young. Be intentional. Know who your kids are following. And maybe… just maybe… keep them off TikTok until they know who they actually are.