Be eHolyThe Social Media Effect
Pine Valley 2012Sunday Adult Forum
By George Miclea
Social Media 2012 Revolution
[₁]
◦ The world is changing quickly!◦ In such a gadget rich and super connected
environment◦ How do we, as believers, adapt, fit in, and ride
the wave of the current technological revolution?
◦ There are SO MANY areas to focus on regarding living holy lives in the information age
◦ We will be focusing on the social media effect
Why “eHoly?”
Regular media is a one-way street (i.e. listen to radio or watch TV)
Social media is a two way street that gives user the ability to take part in the communication and collaboration
What is Social Media?
What is Social Media?
Almost every area of our life has been affected…
The media has quite an audience as well as an influence.
We need to understand the impact that it is having on us as well as the next generation
Why talk about Social Media
By August 2012, Facebook is expected to reach 1 Billion users worldwide
That’s around 14% of the world population!
We aren’t just using the Internet, we are becoming a part of it. [2]
It is the process of putting us into the web [2]
Romans 12:1-2 instructs us to not be conformed to the pattern of this world, but what is the current pattern? How can
we tell?
Referred to as “Digital Natives” [3]
This generation doesn’t use technology, they live it!
They will never meet many of their friends, which are spread out all over the world.
This IS the first generation to live their lives completely on a non-stop diet of media.◦Today’s tweens and teens are now jacked
in 24 hours a day
The Net Generation
We immigrants speak with an accent:◦Print out e-mails◦Call someone to ask if they got your e-mail◦Have someone come to your computer to
show them a site rather than send them a URL
◦Turn to the internet 2nd instead of 1st
The digital natives were born into a digital world, who never knew a world without the internet.
Digital Immigrants [3]
Marc Prensky, (2001) "Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants Part 1", On the Horizon, Vol. 9 Iss: 5, pp.1 - 6
Here’s what your kids had to say…
Teen Forum Survey
Survey conducted at Pine Valley Weekend Retreat Youth Forum 2012-05-26
5 out of 7 teens have a Facebook Account
92% OF THEIR PARENTS ARE AWARE THAT THESE ACCOUNTS EXIST
AND 30% OF THESE SAME PARENTS HAVE NEVER VISITED THEIR CHILD’S FACEBOOK SITE.
AVERAGE “FRIEND” COUNT IS 377(WITH SOME AS HIGH AS 1000)
1 in 7 teens feel “alone” despite being well connected online
85% of them
are girls
34% SAID THEIR PARENTS SET LIMITS ON HOW LONG THEIR KIDS COULD BE ONLINE PER DAY
60% SAID THEIR PARENTS SET RULES/GUIDELINES ON WHAT TYPES OF MEDIA CONTENT THEIR KIDS WERE ALLOWED TO ACCESS
4 in 6 said their parents also had a Facebook account
Average time on the Internet per day:
2 to 3 hours
69% ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR PRIVACY ONLINE
46% SAID THEY POSTED SOMETHING ONLINE THAT THEY LATER REGRETTED
1 out of 7 teens claimed to have posted a picture or a video online that they later
regretted1 out of 7 teens also admitted to visiting sites
containing pornographic content(with frequency ranging from daily to
monthly)
Letter
Txt
Talk
HOW WOULD YOU PREFER TO COMMUNICATE?
Over 60% of Teens would still rather talk face to face over
txt’ing, e-mail, or a hand written letter
60% SAID THEY SEND UP TO 50 TEXTS PER DAY, WHILE THE OTHER 40% SAY THEY SEND MORE THAN 50 PER DAY.
THEIR TWO MOST COMMONLY USED ACRONYMS?
OMGLOL
Do you know what they stand for?
USED BY 3 OUT OF 5 TEENS USED BY 1 OUT OF 3 TEENS
3% SAID IT’S DANGEROUS AND I DON’T USE IT
WHEN ASKED THEIR OVERALL THOUGHT OF SOCIAL MEDIA:
17% SAID IT’S A PASSING FAD, I DON’T CARE
67% SAID ITS FUN, ADDICTING, BUT I’M NOT OBSESSED WITH IT
14% SAID IT’S THEIR LIFE! THEY CANT LIVE WITHOUT IT
WHEN ASKED IF THEY WOULD RATHER BE ONLINE OR BE
TAKING PART IN ACTIVITIES OUTDOORS
97% SAID THEY’D RATHER BE OUTDOORS
When the concept of social networks came on the scene more than 20 years ago, there was a lot of buzz and push to usher in a new age
Some of those same individuals who were behind the thrust are now part of a growing group that are taking a step back to raise awareness of the negative side effects
Effects of Social Media
Teens who use Facebook more often show narcissistic tendencies [5]
Daily overuse of media and technology has a negative effect on the health◦ More prone to anxiety, depression, and other
psychological disorders◦ “Facebook Depression” [4]
Can negatively impact learning.◦ Studies show that students who checked
Facebook at least once during a 15 minute study period achieved lower grades
Negative Effects
“Virtual” Empathy toward others [5]
◦ Encouraging comments and interaction can brighten another’s mood
Giving the “shy” and “introverted” a way to socialize◦ A virtual social training ground
Development of a self-identity◦ Choosing profile details, likes/dislikes, favorites,
quotes, etc.
Positive Effects
What is your “brand?”What you say/do online represents
who you are…and its there for good.
Digital Identity
Project a you that isn’t the real you. We could consciously project the self that
we “want” to be◦ Anything and everything could be edited, hacked,
photoshopped, etc. We could carelessly project the self that we
don’t want to be as well.
“Custom” Digital Identity
Are we representing Christ with our online personas?◦ 2 Cor 5:20a – “We are ambassadors for Christ…”◦ Phil 1:27 – Let your manner of life be worthy of
the gospel of Christ
My Life Represents….
Age of Connectivity
Allows us to re-connect with people we’ve lost touch with
Instant contact with friends and family across the globe
International video calls for free via Skype Share our lives with others at an
unprecedented level
It’s a Small World After All
We don’t always choose our connections◦ Sometimes they find us
Some connections should have never been made◦ Old relationships, bad experiences, etc.
Recent article detailed that 1/3 of all divorce filings last year included the word “Facebook” [6]
Unwanted connections
Is social media bringing us closer together or pushing us farther apart?
Hyper-connectedness = Intimacy diffusion
How much of you is there to go around? Depth of relationships are “thinning out” in favor of our increased connectivity
We are getting used to a new way of being “alone together” [7]
We are glued to our little screens, despite being physically in the company with others.
How much conversation takes place at the dinner table anymore?
Alone Together?
“If we don’t teach our kids how to be alone, they will
grow up to be lonely” [7]
We’re lonely but afraid of intimacy [7]
◦So…we’re creating the illusion of companionship without the demands of friendship
Being alone feels like a problem that needs to be solved◦“I share therefore I am”
When we lack the capacity for solitude, we turn to others to feel less anxious or to feel alive that we are in a problem state that needs a solution
Connected…and Lonely
Redefining “conversation”
Is this a conversation?
Many kids today say they would “rather txt than talk”
Your kids say, “Yes,
it is”
Have we agreed to accept the diminishing role of conversation?◦Facebook and Twitter have taught us that
it’s ok and accepted to communicate in short bursts
Connection vs. Conversation
Post
Tweet
◦What’s wrong with having a conversation? [8]
Takes place in real time Can’t control what you are going to say very well
◦Virtual Conversation allows us to edit, delete, touch up our conversation before it goes out
◦Human relationships are messy, rich, and demanding…now technology cleans it up
◦When we sacrifice conversation for mere connection, we short change ourselves.
Redefining “conversation”
◦Conversation skills are still the bedrock for proper communication [8]
◦But…the art of conversation is being traded in for quicker and more compact bursts of communication that enable multitaskers to gobble up multiple sources of input at blistering rates.
How is this affecting the kids in the Net Generation?
“…someday, someday, but certainly not now, I would like to learn how to have a
conversation…” 18 yr old male [8]
Have we traded in true relationship
for mere connection
Conversation with God?
With JESUS
How is social media affecting the church? Technology now allows for church-goers to
“consume” content without being physically present◦ Live streaming of church services◦ Blogs◦ Announcements and schedules◦ Prayer support
Is this a good/bad thing?
The Cyberchurch
Barna Research Institute’s findings [9]
◦ By 2020, 10% of our population will rely on the Internet for their entire spiritual experience
◦ Translated: Millions will drop out of the physical church in favor of the cyberchurch
◦ Virtually every dimension of the faith community will be influenced by online faith developments
The Cyberchurch
Barna Research Institute’s findings [9]
◦ Born-again Christians already spend twice as much money on consumer electronics each year as they donate to their church.
◦ Christian Internet users spend 7X more hours each week watching TV than they devote to all of their spiritual ventures combined!
◦ Christian Internet users spend much more time surfing the Internet than they do communicating with God through prayer
The Cyberchurch
Would you replace your physical faith-based meetings/experiences with net-based?
Are churches defined more by their brick-and-mortar locations or their net presence?
What is the church’s role?◦ Is it primarily for “delivering content” or is it
something more. Augmentation is okay but replacement is
not
The Cyberchurch
“…not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the
Day drawing near.” Hebrews 10:25
Dr. Ravi ZachariasWas asked two questions: [10]
1. What are the dangers of social media?2. How can young people safeguard themselves from these dangers?
Dr. Ravi ZachariasWas asked two questions: [10]
1. What are the dangers of social media?2. How can young people safeguard themselves from these dangers?
How can we harness the power of social media for the good?◦Awareness of events and initiatives that
further the gospel◦Active involvement in support ministries◦Connect with those in different countries
unto the furtherance of the gospel◦Tweeting/posting good/meaningful things
rather than nonsense.
Harnessing Social Media
• Use Bible apps on your smart phone?• Allow them to threaten the use of the other apps that steal your time
• Fight fire with fire.• Don’t simply fast from media but replace your diet with good spiritually nourishing food
There is no turning back from the digital revolution
What is your response? This information serves as an undeniable
warning that America’s young people are literally drowning in an ocean of media consumption
Parents, we bare a responsibility that many are clearly forfeiting…and we should be concerned
Wake Up Call
Dr. Michael Rich, pediatrician at Children’s Hospital Boston and director of the Center on Media and Child Health, told New York Times that the media use of America’s young people is so pervasive, we should simply accept media as a constant part of children’s development, “like the air they breathe, the water they drink and the food they eat.”
Do you agree with the “experts”?
“like the air they breathe?” [11]
Constant media saturation is NOT a fact of nature nor is it a matter of constant need
Technology has it’s place but the role of parents is unchanged.◦ Establish rules that protect children and
teenagers from being dominated by technology At the end of the day, parents must find the
courage and wisdom to know when to disconnect.
The Courage to Disconnet [11]
Let no unwholesome word [or txt, post, tweet, e-mail, etc] proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear. (Ephesians 4:29)
Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. (Ephesians 5:15-17)
Make a Difference
Questions / Discussion
1. “Social Media Revolution 2012” Video URL http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0eUeL3n7fDs
2. “How Web 2.0 Works” - http://www.howstuffworks.com/web-20.htm3. Marc Prensky, (2001) "Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants Part 1", On the Horizon, Vol. 9 Iss: 5, pp.1 – 6
4. A new malady called “Facebook Depression” Manila Bulletin Publishing Corp, May 22, 2012 http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/360145/a-new-malady-called-facebook-depression
5. American Psychological Association, 7-28-2011 “Social Networking’s good and bad effects on kids” http://newswise.com/articles/social-networking-s-good-and-bad-impacts-on-kids
6. Fottrell, Quentin, May 21, 2012 “Does Facebook Wreck Marriages?” http://blogs.smartmoney.com/advice/2012/05/21/does-facebook-wreck-marriages/
7. Turkle, Sherry Feb 2012, TEDTalks: Connected, but alone? http://www.ted.com/talks/sherry_turkle_alone_together.html
8. Turkle, Sherry, April 21, 2012, “The Flight from Conversation http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/22/opinion/sunday/the-flight-from-conversation.html?_r=3&pagewanted=all
9. Barna Group, May 2011, More Americans Are Seeking Net-Based Faith Experiences http://www.barna.org/barna-update/article/5-barna-update/48-more-americans-are-seeking-net-based-faith-experiences
10. Zacharias, Ravi via 4Regeneration Youtube video, Feb 6, 2012 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GiJDGkY_SUA
11. AlbertMohler.com – “Like the Air They Breathe” — The Online Life of Kids – Jan 21, 2010 http://www.albertmohler.com/2010/01/21/like-the-air-they-breathe-the-online-life-of-kids/
12. “How Facebook Works” - http://computer.howstuffworks.com/internet/social-networking/networks/facebook.htm
13. “How Net Generation Students Work” - http://people.howstuffworks.com/how-net-generation-students-work.htm
References