A short film about parenting teens, Australia votes for age limits on social media, and Wicked earns a lot of green. But first:
Song of the Week: “tv off” by Kendrick Lamar
At the end of November, Kendrick Lamar dropped his surprise new album, GNX. From day one, it was clear “tv off” was the song grabbing people’s attention: The beat is reminiscent of the rapper’s earlier hit, “Not Like Us,” and the lyrics focus on Lamar’s self-proclaimed role as an arbiter of rap. Beyond its success on music charts, the iconic “Mustard” yell after the beat switch meant “tv off” was pretty much destined to be popular on social media. Considering his clear (to most) victory in the beef with Drake, his upcoming performance at the Super Bowl, and the success of this new album, Kendrick Lamar may be right to claim “I’m what the culture feelin’.” For the lyrics, click here (strong language).
Three Conversations
1. Driving Lessons
What it is: Axis (yup, this Axis) has released its first short film, The Drive.
Why it’s a must-watch: If you’re reading The Culture Translator, chances are that The Drive touches on the issues closest to your heart. The film is about passing on our faith to the next generation—but also about grief, parental alienation, the problem of evil, and so much more. (Early reviews suggest you might want to have a tissue box handy). We’re so grateful to get to create resources like The Drive for parents, grandparents, and deeply invested adults like you. Even though resources like this cost money to make, because of our generous community of donors, everything we do is available completely for free. (And on that note: a generous donor offered to match all donations through the end of the year, up to $50,000. If you give to Axis now, you can double your impact!) Check out The Drive, and let us know what you think!
Continue the conversation: What’s something you wish we talked about more?
2. Australia’s Social Media Ban
What it is: Australia just passed a bill effectively banning social media for children under the age of 16.
Why it could just be the beginning: As we’ve previously reported, social psychologist Jonathan Haidt strongly argued in The Anxious Generation that age 16 should become the enforceable minimum age for social media use. As Reuters puts it, Australia’s ban “sets a benchmark for jurisdictions around the world with one of the toughest regulations targeting Big Tech.” Platforms like Instagram, Snapchat and TikTok will face fines of up to $32 million USD for failing to keep kids under 16 off their platforms in Australia. Opponents of this sort of legislation worry about free speech violations and whether it will drive vulnerable people to find community on even worse parts of the internet. But polls suggest that 77% of Australians are in favor of the legislation, and the mental health effects of social media use globally have clearly indicated the need for a change.
Continue the conversation: Do you think a total ban on social media for everyone under age 16 would be a net positive or a net negative? Why?
3. Defying Gravity
What it is: The Wicked movie has landed in theaters, and fans are breaking out their green face paint, glitter, and deepest Broadway feels (to the tune of $368 million, and counting, in ticket sales).
Why it’s timeless: Like the musical it is based on, the movie Wicked dives into the backstory of Elphaba (the Wicked Witch of the West) and Glinda (the Good Witch), showing how the infamous frenemies got their start. On its surface, the PG-rated Wicked is about witches, magic, and political scheming. But it’s also about stepping into your identity, even when it costs you. Elphaba is green, opinionated, and has no interest in playing by society’s rules. When she realizes that the Wizard, her lifelong idol, is a total fraud, she can’t convince herself to stick around and live the dream she used to have of working alongside him. Glinda tries to reason with her, telling her she can still be with the Wizard and “have all [she] ever wanted” if she would only apologize. Elphaba replies: “I don’t want it; I can’t want it anymore.” (Cue one of most iconic songs in modern musical theater history: “Defying Gravity.”)
Let’s translate this one further…
Wicked is ultimately about choosing freedom over fitting in and purpose over popularity. In a culture where teenagers are constantly bombarded with messages about self-promotion, success, and fitting in, Wicked poses a powerful question: “Who do I want to be?”
In Galatians 1:10, Paul seems to be asking—and answering—this same question: “Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.” Paul recognized that we can’t make everyone happy, and that sometimes pursuing our purpose will make others uncomfortable. But at the end of the day we have to decide: whose approval matters most to us?
Elphaba’s decision to defy gravity—both in the literal sense of flying for the first time and the figurative sense of shaking off societal expectations—reflects this tension. For today’s teenagers, the message of Wicked can issue a challenge to consider the price of conformity versus the rewards of authenticity. It can also offer an opportunity for self-reflection on who they are primarily seeking the approval of: other people, or God? Because at the end of the day, following Him so often requires standing apart from the crowd, and trusting that our true identity lies in Him.
For more context and nuance, check out our Monday Roundtable podcast on Spotify or Apple. In the meantime, here are three questions to spark conversation with your teens:
- What’s one way you’ve “defied gravity” in your own life?
- When is a time you realized that you no longer wanted something you used to want?
- What would your theme song be if life were a musical? (No judgment if it’s “Popular.”)
Parenting together,
The Axis Team
PS: Know someone who could use our conversation starters with their teens? Share the CT with a friend!