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

e-mail

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