Implications of Digital Culture & AI for Children's Faith Formation

Digital culture is a major factor in contemporary children’s lives. It shapes all aspects of their days, from education and relationships to free time and physical health. This paper will explore several ways that digital culture and artificial intelligence influence spiritual well-being and faith formation. It will suggest that digital experiences provide opportunities for kids to expand their spiritual horizons, make connections with diverse others, experiment with authentic identity formation, and engage in creative religious activities. It will also discuss how uncritical exposure to AI, excessive engagement with social media, and other problematic elements of digital culture pose threats to spiritual health, especially for children already at risk because of cultural marginalization and discrimination. Along the way, the paper will explore how faith formation practices can incorporate digital opportunities while teaching children how to resist digital threats.