The New Frontline

The frontline of war is always a dangerous place.

According to the Oxford English Dictionary, frontline is defined as “The foremost line or part of an armed force; the furthest position that an army has reached and where the enemy is or may be engaged.”

It’s where the bold and brave come face-to-face with unsafe tasks or their enemies.

Throughout history, countless brave men and women have selflessly given their lives in numerous battles to protect those they cared about, as well as individuals they will never meet.

Unfortunately, in 2025, another type of war is prevalent in today’s culture. The perceived enemies of this war are the families trying to protect their children from pornography, addiction, mental health issues, criminal activity, and more.

Yet, these parents and guardians on the defensive line are daily facing the frontline challenges of this culture war – their biggest obstacle is something called “the internet.”

And lest we forget, those caught in the middle of this war are unknowingly recruited; they are America’s children.

Today, most of those in this fight, both parents and children alike, are carrying this war around with them via a smartphone in their pocket and a school backpack.

While the internet and these devices can be valuable tools, they also pose a risk to those who are untrained to handle their immense power. And it seems as though the age at which that power is given keeps getting younger.

According to a 2022 National Library of Medicine article:

Mobile phone adoption in the United States is starting in late childhood and early adolescence; currently, 53% of children have a smartphone by age 11. Later in adolescence, mobile phone use remains high, with over 95% of teens ages 13 to 17 years having access to a cell phone. In addition, over 90% of teens report using their phones to pass the time, connect with others (84%), and learn new things (83%). (Emphasis added.)

But smartphones aren’t the only issue.

Common Sense Media reported earlier this year that “By age 2, four in 10 children have their own tablet (40%). By age 4, more than half (58%) of children have their own tablet.”

These are children so young that they can barely feed themselves. Yet, on each of these internet-capable devices, these children are one click away from being exposed to countless online fears and struggles.

In its 2024 Cyber Tipline Report, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) reported these facts straight from the internet battlefield. It found:

20.5 million reports of suspected child sexual exploitation.
More than 546,000 reports concerning online enticement - a 192% increase compared to reports in 2023.
26,823 [child sex trafficking] reports - a 55% increase from 2023.
62.9 million images, videos and other files related to the child sexual exploitation incident being reported.
A 1,325% increase in reports involving Generative AI, going from 4,700 last year to 67,000 reports in 2024.

And as heartbreaking as this report is, even sadder is that due to the weight of this battle, some of these precious children suffer tragic wounds – some that are even fatal.

Studies have shown that children who are given smartphones before their teenage years often face struggles such as low self-esteem, relationship issues, suicidal thoughts, and more.

NCMEC also reported that more than “36 teenage boys have taken their lives as a result of being victimized by financial sextortion.”

There is no doubt that today’s children are fighting a vicious battle. Many times, whether they voice it or not, they also feel alone.

We need today’s parents to take a stand to protect them.

Motherhood is often referred to as “being in a trench”… at least they have that safety. Meanwhile, these children are running to catch a school bus, playing a video game with their friend, or turning in for the night with a war waging in their hands.

As parents, we must be willing to do the hard things and fight for our children even if that means taking away these devices, setting up screen-free times, replacing high-tech phones with old-school flip phones, getting involved with local lawmakers fighting for online protection, or any other means necessary to protect our children.

Their future is on the line.

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