We live in an increasingly digital age. And, in this new technological landscape, Donna Rice Hughes, President and CEO of Enough is Enough, says it’s our young boys who are being affected the most.

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From the Daily Wire:

The internet has become a digital trap for millions of young men and boys. The addictive features programmed into smartphones, social media, video games, and online pornography are intentionally designed to hook kids at an early age.

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In the aftermath of Charlie Kirk’s assassination by suspected shooter Tyler Robinson, a Wall Street Journal columnist astutely noted, “Political violence is a problem. But so is the atomized culture in which young men retreat into confused inner worlds and virtual realities, which can be as addictive and destructive as any drug.”

Across America, young men are drifting into digital isolation — where algorithms, pornographers, sexual predators, and toxic role models, not parents or mentors, manipulate their mindsets and attitudes and ultimately shape who they become.

According to Hughes, it’s the nameless, faceless algorithm that is dragging boys further down this rabbit hole. She highlights a poll that showed that, according to 68% of boys, “posts about masculinity” are simply showing up in boys’ feeds without them having to search for them.

Further complicating things for young boys are violent video games. Hughes highlights that first-person shooter games feature the same technology used to train military and law enforcement to kill, and boys are playing these games increasingly often. Polls show that 67% of teenage boys play video games every day, while a UK report found that high-school-aged boys played around 34 hours of video games every week.

Of course, pornography is also a problem for young boys. A national survey found that 73% of teens have seen online pornography, and over half of those teens were first exposed before they were 13. In addition to distorting God’s view of sexuality and marriage, Hughes notes that porn also makes teens more likely to be diagnosed with depression and anxiety, and boys are seeking this content out far more than girls.

All of these factors are creating a perfect storm setting young men up to fail. As one potential solution, Hughes calls in the Daily Wire article for Congress “start holding Big Tech accountable.” As intercessors, however, we know that prayer is just as important as legislation. Let’s ask God to protect our young boys!

How are you praying for our young boys in this digital age? Share your thoughts and prayers below.

(Excerpt from the Daily Wire. Photo Credit: ClarkandCompany/Getty Images Signature via Canva Pro)