A tropical jungle has beautiful birds and monkey calls and exotic fruits and flowers. But it also has biting insects and poisonous snakes. The modern Internet and social media is like a jungle. It offers rich connections with friends as well as shared experiences like cooking and dancing and gardening. But it can also be distracting and even dangerous as any user is allowed to post petty grievances or lies and half-truths. Our teenagers are already going through natural life transitions, emotional mood swings and formation of identity. They have also had to endure a Covid lockdown and the threat (or reality) of losing a loved one to the virus. First, as adults, we need to assure them that we want to work together to leave a better world for them. Second, we also need to teach them good usage of social media and the Internet. Psychologists wisely recommend that young people get a smart phone only at high school age. Before that they can be given a flip phone to use in emergencies. Parents should also be active participants in what their children are doing and watching. We should model “no-device quiet times” as a family, such as 30 minutes before bedtime. This is a time that we can pray together, or play a game, or put together a puzzle, or watch a favorite TV show. Third, we offer them, over and over again, a plan and structure for living their lives in joy – the Gospel teachings of Jesus. The Ten Commandments lead to love of God and neighbor as we would be loved. Then we learn to love even those who are unlike us by welcoming the stranger among us. As parents, you are still the most influential persons in a teenager’s life. You and I can lead them out of the jungle and into greener pastures. – – – Fr. Jim