Understanding Programming in Television

The term “programming” often comes up in discussions about television, and it has two distinct meanings. One is straightforward, while the other is a bit more complex.

It’s important to consider what you and your children are actually consuming—it’s often referred to as “toxic” programming. This isn’t just about the content that appears on screen; it’s about the deeper influences that can have significant impacts.

For many individuals, particularly within technology giants like Google, the messages conveyed in the Bible often clash with what they are promoting to kids nowadays.

Video games marketed to children often raise similar red flags. In many instances, these games present a concerning level of violence or undermine traditional values. It can feel like more than just a game. Kids who are exposed to violent content may grow into adults who are more likely to perpetuate such violence. They learn to view others as mere objects—either as targets in violent games or as passive participants in digital interactions.

These kinds of games are ubiquitous on devices like smartphones and tablets. Almost all children seem to have access to one or both of these, making it increasingly tough for parents to shield them from inappropriate and harmful content, which often includes interactive online experiences.

Moreover, some platforms host more than just harmful narratives. Online games can also be hunting grounds for predators who disguise themselves among other players to connect with unsuspecting children.

Finding New Solutions

So, what are parents to do?

Parental controls have their limits. Today’s tech-savvy kids typically understand computers and the internet much better than their parents by the age of 13. Simply taking away a device seems clumsy and, in many cases, ineffective. Your child’s friends most likely have their own devices, which can easily bypass any restrictions you try to set.

One approach parents can take is to offer alternatives for entertainment.

Consider Truplay, a new gaming platform founded by Brent Dusing, which aims to provide “high-quality, fun, biblically sound” entertainment for children.

Dusing, an alumnus of Harvard and a trailblazer in Christian gaming through a previous venture called Lightside Games (which attracted over 7 million players), is also a board member at Promise Keepers, an organization focused on helping fathers reconnect with their role.

Truplay offers a selection of apps that include Bible-based games, such as The Battle of King David, where children can role-play as biblical figures. Other options feature comics and videos that present biblical themes in a fun light, reminiscent of popular graphic novels but without the darker elements. Some games even take cues from classic hits, like incorporating stained glass designs akin to Tetris.

Counter Programming and Censorship

This isn’t just about gaming—it’s about what’s being offered to children.

Dusing notes, “There’s a lot of terrible content,” and he points out the scarcity of themes related to “God’s truth, hope, and joy” in the gaming industry. It’s almost a daring act to reference Jesus or the Bible in games or other media, especially when public attention is generally swayed by the latest first-person shooter hits. The media fervor surrounding these releases often resembles a cultural phenomenon.

In contrast, platforms like Truplay often find themselves overshadowed or ignored. Dusing mentions that major tech companies like Google restrict or reduce advertising visibility for Truplay, citing “sensitivity interest” as the reason.

This does resonate with a segment of the audience.

For high-tech firms, the Bible’s messages frequently oppose what they’re promoting to children, including content often deemed inappropriate.

Dusing believes that Truplay is being stifled by Google’s algorithms, which regard biblically inspired content as a potential threat.

“In America,” Dusing states, “there was this seismic shift in how gaming has evolved.”

Indeed, we’ve transitioned from innocent games like Space Invaders and Pac-Man to hyper-realistic shooters like Call of Duty, which portray violence in an unsettlingly lifelike manner. Titles like Grand Theft Auto glamorize theft, while demonic themes in games such as Doom and Quake are marketed as “fun.”

This cultural divide draws kids in, often without them realizing the implications.

“What kind of world is it,” Dusing challenges, “where wholesome, inspiring games with Christian values are seen as offensive, while explicit content aimed at children passes under the radar?”

It’s a thought-provoking question without an easy answer.

Truplay’s mission is to initiate lasting change, aiming to influence future generations in profound ways that shape cultural perspectives.