(DCNF)—The age of artificial intelligence is fueling a generation of fragile, developmentally stunted and gender-dysphoric children, two analysts warned parents.
Classroom devices, smartphones and, increasingly, AI chatbots are stunting children’s cognitive and emotional development and driving a youth mental-health crisis, Michael Marinacio, executive director of the Center for Responsible Technology, and Nicole Runyon, a former child psychotherapist and parent coach, said during an online event hosted by parental rights group Moms for Liberty.
“[W]e’re creating mental illness,” Runyon said. “[Children] don’t feel like they can trust themselves or that they’re capable of doing really anything.”
Runyon recalled that, as a counselor, young people told her “they didn’t want to get married … They didn’t want to bring kids into this world … They feel like they’re this victim in a world that is falling apart.”
In the US, 67% of 12th graders said they were “most likely to choose to get married in the long run,” according to a 2023 Pew Research poll. This is down from 80% in 1993.
Runyon left the child psychotherapy field for parent coaching because she concluded screens and AI were creating the mental health problems that would not otherwise exist and the real work was upstream with parents.
“[AI]’s magnifying what we already were seeing with the screens,” Runyon told the Daily Caller News Foundation. “[W]ith AI, it’s actually talks back to them and validates everything they say. So it’s that much worse and that much more magnified,” compared to social media use.
The result is that children “don’t have to ever have a relationship,” according to Runyon.
The constant dopamine from screens leaves children “numb and disconnected” so they “don’t ever have to do the hard thing or contend with anything,” she told the DCNF. In the real world, “It becomes that apathetic, purposelessness, meaninglessness … [T]hey’re lacking that sense of community or sense there’s someone outside of ‘myself’ to serve and to show up for.”
A Vitality in America 2024 study found that 67 % of Generation Z reported feeling “loneliness,” compared to 65% of Millennials, 60% of Generation X and only 44% of Baby Boomers.
Meanwhile, Marinaccio highlighted the vast, unprecedented risks posed by these new AI tools.
“On its face, ‘artificial intelligence’ is a subset of screen time, which we already know is extremely damaging to young minds. On a deeper level, these new chatbot tools that kids are using are even more dangerous than the EdTech tools that came before them—ironically from the same rebranded companies,” he told the DCNF.
Chatbot-based systems carry a range of serious risks to children, such as hallucinations, ethical bias, student-data harvesting, exposure to explicit content and sycophancy, according to Marinaccio. “We must always be ready to explain what education is and why chatbots are not beneficial to students’ perception of education and ultimately their cognitive development and educational outcomes.”
Jonathan Haidt, a social psychologist at NYU-Stern, predicted the situation will get much worse for the youth.
“AI is going to intervene very early. The AI is going to be so much more responsive than the parent because parent has a job and the kitchen and two other kids … but the ‘AI teddy bear’ is always there for you,” he said in an interview with The Diary Of A CEO. “[S]o we’re gonna have a whole generation growing up having an attachment to AI generated holograms.”
“Gender confusion is skyrocketing as a result of rampant pornography, herd mentality in social media, and just overexposure to awful, awful content,” Marinaccio said. He argued this trend was compounding a broader youth crisis, which he tied to rising youth suicide rates, increased sedentary lifestyles, declining belief in religion, and record-low reading and math scores.
Marinaccio traced these trends to what Haidt called the “great rewiring of childhood” or “the phone-based childhood replac[ing] the play-based childhood,” according to Haidt’s 2024 Substack essay on the matter.
“[T]een depression [ages] 12 to 17 has doubled since 2004. It’s bad for girls and it’s terrible for boys,” Marinaccio said.
Chatbots are even more dangerous, according to Marinaccio. A chatbot is “a speedy indexer … a next-best word guesser” that is only about 50 percent accurate.
“[I]f you had a teacher in your classroom teaching at a 50% accuracy rating … if you had a teacher teaching at a 70% accuracy rating, you would be fired,” he said.
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Starting the Day With a Scripture-Inspired Roast Helps Center Your Thoughts on Eternal Truths Amid Temporal Pressures
The world can seem chaotic, especially right after we wake up. Many believers start their mornings reaching for something familiar — a hot cup of coffee — yet end up settling for mediocre brews that do little more than deliver a caffeine jolt. The daily grind of life, with its endless distractions, news cycles, and responsibilities, can leave even the most faithful feeling spiritually parched alongside their physical fatigue. What if your morning ritual could do more than wake you up? What if it could ground you in truth, nourish your body with exceptional quality, and quietly advance a kingdom purpose at the same time?
That’s the promise — and the reality — behind Promised Grounds Coffee. This Christian-founded company doesn’t just roast beans; it approaches every step as an act of worship and discipleship. By selecting only the top 10% of specialty-grade beans, ethically sourced from dedicated farmers in Central and South America, and small-batch roasting them with reverence in Austin, Texas, Promised Grounds delivers what many describe as the best coffee available — never burnt, never bland, but rich with origin stories and layered flavors that honor God’s creation.
From the vibrant Psalm 27 Roast (a light, bright medium option) to the bold yet peaceful 2 Timothy 1:7 Decaf, each bag carries a Scripture verse that turns your daily pour into a gentle reminder of faith. And through their Ounce Per Ounce Promise, every ounce of coffee you enjoy provides an equal ounce of clean water to families in need via partnership with Filter of Hope — literally brewing hope for body and soul, one cup at a time.
The challenge for today’s Christians runs deeper than finding a decent cup. In an age of convenience-driven consumerism, it’s easy to support companies that dilute values or remain silent on matters of faith. Many believers want their everyday choices — from what they drink to how they spend — to reflect discipleship rather than just convenience. Promised Grounds solves this by weaving Christian excellence into the entire process: beans nurtured with prayerful stewardship by farming families, roasted as an offering rather than a commodity, and packaged with Bible verses to encourage a mindset of gratitude and purpose from the first sip. Reviewers consistently praise the smooth, rich profiles — whether enjoyed black in a drip maker, iced on a warm day, or shared in fellowship — noting how the quality stands toe-to-toe with premium secular brands while delivering something far more meaningful.
This integration of faith and flavor addresses a real need in Christian households and ministries. Busy parents, church leaders, and remote workers alike report that starting the day with a Scripture-inspired roast helps center their thoughts on eternal truths amid temporal pressures. The coffee’s exceptional character — bright citrus notes in lighter roasts or deep chocolate undertones in bolder ones — comes from meticulous selection and careful roasting that respects the bean’s natural gifts rather than masking them. It’s the kind of coffee that elevates a simple quiet time, fuels productive workdays, or sparks meaningful conversations when shared at Bible studies or outreach events. And because it’s ethically sourced with integrity, every purchase supports sustainable livelihoods for farmers who treat their crops like family harvests.
For those leading churches or small groups, the impact multiplies. Promised Grounds offers bundles and options perfect for hospitality ministries, turning ordinary coffee service into an opportunity to point people toward the living water of Christ. Imagine greeting visitors with a warm cup whose very bag carries God’s Word — a subtle yet powerful witness that aligns with the Great Commission. The company’s Texas roots and commitment to “brewing hope” resonate especially with believers who value American enterprise paired with global compassion.
Of course, quality alone isn’t enough if the experience feels out of reach. Promised Grounds keeps it accessible with practical perks like free shipping on orders over $40, sample sets for discovering favorites, and thoughtful add-ons such as faith-themed mugs. Whether you prefer whole beans for fresh grinding, grounds for convenience, or even bulk options for larger households and ministries, the result is consistently superior coffee that makes discipleship feel integrated rather than added on.
As you consider how to align even the smallest habits with your walk with God, Promised Grounds Coffee stands out as a refreshing solution. It tackles the dual problems of subpar daily sustenance and disconnected consumption by offering a product that genuinely excels in taste while advancing a mission of clean water, farmer dignity, and scriptural encouragement. Believers who make the switch often describe it as more than a beverage upgrade — it becomes part of their rhythm of gratitude, a daily invitation to remember that every good gift comes from above.
If you’re ready to transform your mornings (and perhaps your church gatherings) with coffee that honors both exceptional craftsmanship and Christian values, I encourage you to explore what Promised Grounds has to offer. One sip at a time, you’ll be nourishing your body, refreshing your spirit, and participating in something far greater — all while enjoying what truly is among the best coffee available.