Why Smartphones Are the Greatest Threat to Your Child — and What to Do About It

Join us on Wednesday, November 18 in the Parish Hall
5:30pm – 6:00pm social/food
6:00pm - 7:30pm Dr. D’Souza talk

Should you buy your child a smartphone?
This talk equips parents, educators, and communities with research-backed strategies to protect children from toxic screen use and raise kids who thrive in a hyper-connected world.

In 2010, teen mental health collapsed. Depression, anxiety, and suicide rates skyrocketed— especially among girls. What changed? Smartphones and social media became ubiquitous. 

Dr. D’Souza presents the sobering research on how pornography, social media, and video games are destroying young minds during their most vulnerable developmental years. Drawing from thousands of clinical hours and 15 years mentoring teenage boys, he’s witnessed an epidemic: even the best kids from the best families are losing the battle against screen addiction. 

Key Takeaways: 
The 2010 mental health crisis: what the data reveals
How smartphones physically rewire developing brains
The pornography epidemic no one talks about
Why “teaching responsible use” doesn’t work
Practical alternatives to smartphones and social media
How to be the parent who saves their child

Dr. Johann D’Souza
Clinical Psychologist • National Speaker • Author: “Saving Teens from Toxic Screens”
Dr. Johann D’Souza is a clinical psychologist and national speaker on protecting children from digital destruction. With a PhD from the University of Houston and over 20 peer-reviewed publications, he combines elite academic credentials with 16 years of frontline experience mentoring young people. He is the author of Saving Teens from Toxic Screens. Dr. D’Souza’s message is unapologetically direct: smartphones, social media, and pornography are destroying young minds, and parents must take radical action. He hosts the Virtuous Leaders podcast and speaks nationwide to schools, churches, and parent communities. You can follow his work at johanndsouza.com.