Hi friends!
As I’ve walked with my own teens and families attending the Road to Social Media girl talk events, I’ve felt a growing burden for this generation of girls. They’re navigating social media pressures that most of us never faced at their age, and and many of them are doing it alone. Yet, though the burden they are carrying is heavy, they are incredibly resilient and hopeful. They believe there is a better path forward through the digital world.
These girls are smart. They know many parents are saying no to social media these days, but they're ready for more than smartphone rules and restrictions. They're tired of scare tactics. They want factual, grounded information about how social media works, and why it falls short of God's design for true connection.
They want to know that waiting for social media will be worth it.
After years of studying, reading, praying, learning from people wiser than me, and putting ideas on paper, what has emerged is a project is very dear to my heart: Tidbits of Truth About Social Media and You.
I wanted to create something beautiful, approachable, and bite-sized—something a mom could hand to her daughter that would spark conversations about delaying social media without feeling heavy-handed. A resource that helps girls understand not only the risks of social media, but also God’s good design for relationships, identity, truth, and connection.
IT'S PERFECT FOR FAMILIES WHO:
• Have children in grades 5–9 (particularly girls, who research shows are often affected most deeply by social media)
• Are delaying social media access and want to help their kids understand why
• Want to proactively prepare their children to think critically and biblically about the digital world
WAYS IT CAN BE USED :
• Parent-daughter discipleship
• Small group studies
• A trusted resource on the bedside table of a middle school girl experiencing social media FOMO
ENJOY THESE FAMILY & FRIENDS PERKS THROUGH JULY 31!
To celebrate the upcoming August 11 Amazon launch, I’m offering my newsletter subscribers a few special pre-launch perks:
✓ Pre-launch price: $14.95 (25% off)
✓ Free shipping
✓ A signed personalized bookplate
Thank you for patience as I've developed this resource for families who are delaying social media. My greatest hope is that girls feel loved and seen, and can begin to understand the ways social media falls short of God's design for true connection.
xo, kb
The digital world is pretty mature. How "spicy" is this book?
This book is not graphic or explicit, and it doesn’t include detailed descriptions of mature content. However, it does address real issues that are showing up in today’s digital world, including sextortion, exposure to inappropriate images, eating disorders, and self-harm content. Unfortunately, these topics can’t be separated from how social media and online spaces impact kids today.
Rather than sensationalizing or overwhelming, each topic is handled with care, clarity, and age-appropriate language—focused on helping girls understand what’s happening, build discernment, and feel safe talking with trusted adults. The goal is not fear, but wisdom, confidence, and connection in navigating the digital world.
Why focus on girls - don't boys need this too?
Yes. The principles in this book are valuable for both girls and boys. However, the language, examples and design are intentionally tailored to help girls feel seen and supported in a way that speaks directly to their lived experience.
While every child is unique, research consistently shows that the rise in anxiety, depression, and digital distress linked to unhealthy social media use is higher for girls than for boys. Developmentally, middle school girls are often more impacted by social comparison and identity pressure online, while middle school boys are more often drawn toward achievement, mastery, and immersive digital environments. There is meaningful overlap, but these patterns help explain why this resource is intentionally designed to support girls in this formative season.
Do you have a high school version?
Not yet. This book was intentionally written for upper elementary and middle school girls, but it was reviewed by a Teen Advisory Board that included girls from 4th grade through college. That wide range of feedback helped ensure the content feels relevant, honest, and respectful across different ages.
You’ll also find real examples and reflections from older girls, including college-aged students, woven throughout the book to help bridge understanding across developmental stages. The response has been overwhelmingly positive, with many girls sharing that while they’ve been asked to read similar books before, this is the first one that truly “gets me.”
If you have an older teen who might benefit from it, consider grabbing a copy for her to preview for a younger sister, cousin, or friend. When she reads it, invite her input—ask what resonates, what feels missing, and what she would add. Her perspective can be a meaningful part of the conversation too.
Were professionals consulted in the development of this book?
Yes! This book was developed in collaboration with a team of professionals who kept the content sharp and true:
Becky Alfred, MD | Pediatrician + Certified Parent Coach
Susan Dunaway, LCPC | Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor + Digital Neuroscience Consultant
Megan Endres, LSCSW, LMAC | Behavioral + Mental Health Clinician
Allyson Evans | NextGen Pastor
Juhi Kangas, MD | Pediatrician + Certified Parenting Coach
Lainie Montgomery | Director of Spiritual Formation, ACSI
Riley Roberts | Director of Student Ministries
Megan Schoff, CRNA | Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist
Jenn Tews | Award Winning Middle School Educator
Brenda Walden, LCMFT | Licensed Clinical Marriage and Family Therapist + Co-founder of Screen Sanity
Author Krista Boan
Krista Boan is the co-founder of the international nonprofit Screen Sanity , host of the Screen Sanity podcast and a former middle school teacher. Her current work is developing simple social media mentorship resources for tweens, which she shares through the Road to Social newsletter and girl-talk events. Krista has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, NBC with Diane Sawyer, the New York Times and Christianity Today. She lives in Kansas City with her husband and four t(w)eens.
Social media training wheels... straight to your inbox.
The Road to Social newsletter equips parents and kids to cross the bridge into the social media world with intention and integrity.
By subscribing, you will receive a special link to your selected Free Resources. We hope these engaging tools make digital discipleship simple for your family.
ABOUT ROAD TO SOCIAL:
EXPERT GUIDED. We offer calm, grounded, and uplifting information reviewed by physicians, therapists and researchers.
GIRL APPROVED. Our insights are created for girls approaching the social media years to give them a hopeful path through the hazardous online world.
FAITH BASED. Our simple digital discipleship resources start and end with the beauty of God's social design.