In his first encyclical, Magnifica Humanitas, Pope Leo XIV turned directly to parents, and what he said is something every family needs to hear.
1) Don't Give Your Child a Phone Too Early
“Having a personal mobile device at too early an age and using it without adult supervision can exacerbate young people's vulnerabilities, foster addiction and expose them to isolation, bullying and cyberbullying, as well as to pressures to share intimate images or sensitive information.” (Magnifica Humanitas, 141)
The Pope goes further — naming pornographic content, AI‑manipulated images, fake profiles, and pressure to share intimate images as specific dangers that early, unsupervised device access makes worse.
2) Supervise Actively — and Know You Can't Do It Alone
“It is difficult for parents by themselves to resist the influence of business models that monetize attention and time.” (Magnifica Humanitas, 142)
He is not saying parents are failing. He says they are outgunned — up against engineers, behavioral psychologists, and billions of dollars of addictive design. The encyclical still calls parents to active supervision, not passive permission.
3) Teach Children to Recognize Manipulation — By Name
“It is also necessary to teach children, adolescents and young people how to recognize manipulation, defend their dignity and respect that of others in digital environments.” (Magnifica Humanitas, 142)
A child who understands what an algorithm does, why their feed shows what it shows, and why an AI chatbot's warmth is simulated rather than real is harder to exploit. Naming the mechanism is itself a form of protection.
Pope Leo adds:
“...thus can children and adolescents, who are entrusted to our care, be genuinely protected as a precious treasure.” (Magnifica Humanitas, 142)