OSPREY: Ben and Erin Napier’s Parenting Movement for Social Media-Free Kids Through High School
Co-founders of OSPREY (Old School Parents Raising Engaged Youth), Ben and Erin Napier and Catherine and Taylor Sledge are excited about spearheading a grassroots movement that encourages and connects parents “who want to create a dynamic, engaged childhood for their kids, and preserve the value of authentic human connection.”
Do you have the courage to parent your kids through high school without allowing them access to social media? Strength comes from above and from those around you.
The Mom, Erin Napier, Shares Her Heart on Social Media
If you were scrolling through Instagram on July 7, you may have caught a glimpse of HGTV’s Home Town creative, Erin Napier sharing her first live video. In her down-to-earth style, Erin shared the concerns she and her husband, Ben, along with some of their friends, have about raising their children in today’s social media-laden world. Out of their passion to raise their kids without the influence of social media, they began a grassroots movement and created their first non-profit, OSPREY.
“We are parents committed to helping our kids achieve social media free childhoods until they graduate high school. When adolescents have no access to social media, they gain access to deeper engagement with their families, interests and self assurance. When we change the culture around “everyone has it except my child” by linking arms with other parents in our communities and committing to embargo social media together beginning in the elementary grades, we set our children up for success before peer pressure can take it from them.”
– Mission Statement for OSPREY
Before we crucify all social media, let’s remember it has the potential to bring about just as many good things as it does bad. After all, it is through Instagram, that Erin Napier is encouraging parents whom she may not be able to reach otherwise. The focus of this post is about protecting our children until they’ve matured into young adults.
Why I Support the OSPREY Movement
Even though my children are ages eighteen and up, I still signed up for the free OSPREY newsletter and guidebook. Why? Because I want to help spread the word as well and encourage parents to start building a community “nest” with like-minded parents.
Like Erin, I remember and cherish the value of a tech-free childhood. Also, I’ve seen the effects of allowing social media into a child’s life too soon. Even when great measures were taken to protect children from exposure to the undesirable parts of social media, I’ve still seen many children/teens suffer when they were given a phone or laptop before they matured into young adults.
I think after 9-11, our hearts broke as we heard about the victims calling their loved ones one last time. It made us want to ensure our capability to contact our family and friends at any time. I’ve not researched the statistics, but I’m guessing cell phone sales skyrocketed in the aftermath of 9-11. Our motives for buying every family member a phone may have been out of our sincere love and concern. But, we could not estimate the magnitude of negative side effects. Eventually, one of those would be developing the belief that everyone, no matter how young, should have a phone (or other tech device) and all its trappings.
Rather than a device for our children to use only for essential communication and school research projects, tech devices have become kids’ must-have gadgets for entertainment and social status.
The negative results of social media’s influence on our children are heartbreaking. They include isolation, low self-esteem, bullying, addictions, depression, and suicide.
What If Our Children Have Already Entered the Door to Social Media?
So, what if parents have already given their children access to social media and now, they regret it?
Doug Smith, author of [Un]Intentional: How Screens Secretly Shape Your Desires, and How You Can Break Free, guest blogged here with a post: “Pushing Reset on Your Family’s Relationship with Screens.” In that post, he offers a five-step plan to start your counter-cultural reset. Two of the steps Doug offers are:
Cast a vision. What could your life be like, how free could you be, and how much could God do in and through you, if you were free from addictive screens? It’s so much easier to say no when you have a better yes.
Apologize. When you realize that you’ve let technology take over your kids’ lives, tell them honestly. You didn’t know before, but now you do. Tell them you understand that changes will be hard, but that you’ll get through them together.
-Doug Smith
Consider Your Child’s Community
However, for parents of children who haven’t been exposed to social media yet, then seriously consider joining the OSPREY community.
They “primarily exist to support parents of kindergarten – 6th-grade children, who have not yet been entrenched in the world of social media.”
How much easier will it be if children have a group of friends who are also being raised without social media? You may already have a group of friends with similar values. How wonderful to have families encouraging and praying for one another. Perhaps OSPREY will extend your forest of friends.
Stay strong. Be courageous!
For more information check out:
50 Screen-Free Activities to Avoid Total Summer Veg-Out
Info on Attending an Osprey Panel Discussion at the University of Mississippi
Held August 1, 2023, 5:00 – 6:15 pm
Featuring: Dr. Adriana Stacey, MD of psychiatry, adolescent screen addictions expert
Special Agent David Polson, U.S. Secret Service, Cyber Crimes
Erin & Ben Napier, CEO and founder of Osprey, hosts of HGTV’s Home Town
Dr. Catherine & Taylor Sledge, President and founder of Osprey, moderators
Ashley & Hu Meena, CEO of C Spire
A freelance writer, Sally Matheny’s writing is published in worldwide, national, regional, online and print publications including Appleseeds, Clubhouse Jr., Homeschooling Today, and The Old Schoolhouse. Her first nonfiction children’s book, T is for Together is slated for release by End Game Press in the spring of 2025.
As a writer, blogger, and speaker, Sally encourages parents to live victorious and to courageously tell the next generation wondrous things. Connect with her on several social media sites, but her favorite hangouts are at SallyMatheny.com and Pinterest.
7 Comments
J.D. Wininger
Thank you for sharing Ms. Sally. Nice to learn that there are options and resources out there to help parents, and grandparents, to help wean or raise up your children and grandchildren without the influence of “anti-social” media in their lives. I looked around the Fellowship Hall gymnasium a few week’s ago before Bible Boot Camp session began. There were children sitting along the wall who were oblivious to all that was happening around them. Engrossed in their phones, thumbs flying at a feverish pace, I prayed, “What can I do, Lord.” Although I’m not their parent, their parents have entrusted them to my care for a couple of hours each week. I realized that what I COULD do was to put my own phone on Do Not Distrub and interact with them rather than check to read comments on a blog post, read emails, or block incoming calls from people who want to sell me stuff I don’t want. I could interact with them, learn about their week and what’s going on in their world.
Kathy
What an amazing movement, and so needed by many families! Thank you, Sally, for telling us about it.
Susan Parris
I’m so excited to be able to get the information first hand that will help get my grandkids off social media. This is such a wonderful project Ben and Erin Napier thank you. I don’t know Catherine and Taylor Sledge but will love them just as much I’m sure. Thank you all you’re making a very positive change for humanity. Praise and glory to God.
Sally Matheny
Hi, Susan. Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us. I believe our grandkids will find it easier if they have a group of friends who are also not on social media. Plus, there are so many healthier alternatives for children to get involved with as they grow into young adults.
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Ginny Lucas
Wonderful wonderful concept. It might be easier to implement with your K-6 kiddos but as far as having it work through high school I just can’t see it. I come though 15yrs in junior high.
First-teachers teach lessons that require you to have a phone or chrome book. Students that don’t have either are definitely embarrassed
Second-other kiddos when using their phones will share info chats etc defeating the purpose.
Rest assure I’m not saying your kids need to do everything their friends do by any means. Having even what I did in schools it’s too bad we can’t put them in a bubble. Once again the concept is great
Sally Matheny
Hi, Ginny. Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts here. I hear what you’re saying. Students receive instructions and messages from their teachers and perhaps even participate in group assignments. I think what’s being suggested through Opsrey Kids is not necessarily a total avoidance of technology–especially for schoolwork. Rather, the concept they’re mainly promoting is keeping kids off of social media.
You are right though–it will be easier if parents/guardians begin this at an early age. Hopefully, more and more adults will see the benefits reaped by children who are not participating in social media and they’ll be encouraged to try it with their kids. However, no one in this world is in a bubble. Everyone will undergo trials and temptations.
Going against the world’s current trends is never an easy task. But, if we see it’s healthier for our families to do so, then we can grow stronger as we encourage and swim upstream together.
I’ve noticed Osprey Kids.com has posted more helpful resources since I wrote this blog post. Check them out at: https://ospreykids.com/resources/.
And, Ginny, thanks again for engaging in this conversation. I hope you find encouragement here.