Emotional Resilience

The 5 Best Ways Dads Can Protect Childhood in a Tech World

Defend Young Minds Staff

June 10, 2025

Dads play a unique and powerful role in the outcomes of their children. And this truth shows up regularly in the research.

So this Father’s Day we’re pausing to honor dads everywhere who step up in extraordinary—or even ordinary—ways. Men who protect their kids from pornography, online dangers, and the mental health traps of the digital world.

A father and his kids sitting on the edge of a pool eating popsicles.

It’s not easy. But there are fathers who get it—dads who are also in the trenches. Dads who face the hard questions, make mistakes, keep learning, and keep showing up.

Here’s a collection of their wisdom, encouragement, and love—shared to help keep kids safer from pornography, predators, and the harms of our hyperconnected culture. Their stories remind us that no dad is perfect, every dad can be the perfect dad for their kids.

1. Teaching hard truths: Pornography, curiosity, and the digital world

Dads can’t afford to stay silent about hard topics like pornography, online risks, and sexuality. Kids are curious, and if fathers don’t guide them, it’s very possible the internet will.

"You’re protecting them from danger, predators, drugs, pornography, bullying, and many other threats. Sometimes a dad’s toughest job is to protect children from themselves—mistakes that can hurt them as they develop their own character, identity, and belief system. Even fathers who struggle with pornography can still work to protect their kids from it."
— Officer David Gomez

“Get in the game. The reality is that many parents avoid educating their children. Fathers want to pass this off to the mothers and mothers want to pass this off to the fathers. But both influences are needed. When it comes to pornography, we no longer have the luxury to keep our heads in the sand. Get in the game. Talk. Discuss. Open up and help. Otherwise we’re throwing our kids to wolves.”
— Clay Olson, Fight the New Drug

“For any parent reading this worried about pornography, most kids aren’t being exposed to porn for the first time directly from the porn sites, but from apps like TikTok, Snapchat and Instagram.

“Plan on your son being exposed to everything [above]..., plus tons of videos that are extremely racist, anti-semetic, xenophobic, homophobic and also witnessing the hyper-sexualization of girls who they see and sometimes know and what impact that can have on them and how they treat women."
— the late Collin Kartchner, Save the Kids

2. When kids don’t want our help: Focus on the bond

Sometimes kids push us away—especially when they’re struggling. That’s when connection matters most.

"Focus on the bond. Secure attachment to caregivers is one of the strongest factors for childhood resilience. Your child may not always want to hear your message—but they need your connection."
— Taylor Chambers, LMFT

"Fathers can be a hero just by showing up to a child’s school activity, taking a child fishing, making a special lunch, or sometimes just listening."
— Officer David Gomez

Even if kids resist, staying connected gives them a safe place to turn when life gets hard.

3. Teaching emotional strength: The secret weapon for resilience

Dads who model emotional resilience give their kids tools to navigate life’s challenges—and avoid unhealthy escapes like pornography.

"My father never taught me to understand my emotional needs. That led to disaster in my life... I wanted my son to know that emotions are good and expressing feelings makes men stronger.

“…Your child’s best chance is to learn to meet their own emotional needs through relationships. Reality has to meet their emotional needs in ways fantasy cannot.”
— John Fort, Be Broken Ministries

"We need to be the prime example of what healthy relationships look like with our spouses and others who are important to us. That example will be very effective in helping kids see the difference between real love and pornography."
— Clay Olsen

“A father is there to teach values and pass on important family traditions. Ideally, I believe a father should be an example of what a boy should become and the type of person a daughter should marry.”
— Officer David Gomez

4. Protecting your kids means protecting their childhood

In today’s hypersexualized, hurried world, kids are growing up too fast. Dads can help guard their innocence—by setting boundaries, saying no, and showing up.

"For your young kids, TikTok is the thief of childhood.

“Kids wanting things their friends have has been a thing since forever! Just say no. :)

“If you want to keep your kids safe and mentally healthy you have to do things differently than all the ‘other neighbors’ and ‘other parents’.”
— Collin Kartchner

"I fight for my daughters’ sake and for other daughters who are not mine. What world will we pass off to our children? Today we need to make that change."
— Clay Olsen

“We must teach our kids healthy behaviors, enforce safe boundaries, and actively promote other positive hobbies and forms of entertainment. We cannot expect our children to learn this on their own…You are the parent!

“Yes, you'll have to say ‘no’ a lot, but by providing training and boundaries you’ll also teach your children to self-govern and give them opportunities to develop many other skills and interests. Soon you’ll see them expand their horizons, and you will say ‘yes!’”
— Tyler Davis, Better Screen Time

Dads, your voice matters. Having the hard conversations about love, sex, bodies, and the dangers of pornography helps your kids build a strong foundation.

"Let your son know that what he did makes perfect sense to you [in response to him looking up girls in bras]. Instead of telling him he did something wrong, make sure he knows that his feelings and desires were right, but he went to the wrong sources. Let him know that you want to help him get answers to questions in a way that will actually answer his questions instead of exposing him to the lies he will find in pornography.

“You’re not just teaching anatomy—you’re teaching values, respect, and healthy relationships.

“He not only needs accurate information, but he also needs to hear your values about relationships, sexuality, and gender."
— Geoff Steurer, LMFT

These conversations are awkward—but they matter. You don’t need perfect answers—you just need to keep showing up, keep asking questions, and keep reminding your kids they can always come to you.

‍Your voice matters: Keep showing up

To every dad out there: thank you for showing up. We appreciate you for:

having the hard conversations.
setting limits, even when it’s unpopular.
listening, even when your kids push back.
fighting to protect your kids from a digital world that often puts profit over their safety.
teaching them what real love, real strength, and real connection look like.

This Father’s Day, we celebrate you—the everyday heroes who may not wear a cape, but who are shaping the future, one child at a time.

And if you feel like you’ve missed chances to teach, protect, or connect, remember: it’s never too late to start. Your kids need you now. They need your love, your voice, and your example—today, tomorrow, and every day after that.
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Want resources to help you navigate tough conversations and digital parenting?

Good Pictures Bad Pictures

Porn-Proofing Today’s Young Kids

"I really like the no-shame approach the author takes. It's so much more than just 'don't watch or look at porn.' It gave my children a real understanding about the brain and its natural response to pornography, how it can affect you if you look at it, and how to be prepared when you do come across it (since, let's face it... it's gonna happen at some point)." -Amazon Review by D.O.

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