The term Social network refers to people who are linked to one another. Some online encounters in chat rooms, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter meet our definition of group, people who interact with one another and who think of themselves as belonging together. That’s exactly why the Social Network sites are thriving so well, everyone wants to belong to something, everyone wants to feel like they belong. We are relational people who were created by a relational God; it comes natural for us to want to be with each other in some form, to want to connect.
In an article I just recently read, Dr. Danah Boyd stated that social network sites are a cross between a yearbook and a community web site. That’s the best way I’ve heard it described thus far. Boyd also said, “Unfortunately, predators lurk wherever youth hang out. My thoughts exactly, we can’t live in fear of predators or we would never allow our children to leave the house but we still have to keep a watchful eye and know that God is in control. The shocker for me was, less than .01 percent of all youth abductions nationwide are stranger abduction. Youth are at far greater risk of abuse in their own homes or at a friend’s house.
The other person quoted in the article was researcher Henry Jenkins who says that youth have developed different notions in privacy and I couldn’t agree with him more. That’s why reality TV is doing so well, nothing is private anymore. It doesn’t matter who knows your business because there is nothing to be ashamed about anymore. There is no pride in anything, you are considered cool by the more disgraceful things you do. Jenkins also stated, “Just as youth in hunting society play with bows and arrows, youth in an information society play with information on social networks”. I totally agree and believe it’s just as dangerous. Our children have information, good or bad at their fingertips.
Rather we like or agree with Social Networking its happening and play’s a big part in our society today so we might as well learn how to live with it and use it correctly. If we are going to have our children on (who are of age) then they should have a private profile set up for safety. Their time should be limited on the internet period, not just on Social Networks. It is way too much information on the worldwide web that their little minds can’t handle. They should not have access to Social Networks at school, it’s too much for our teachers to monitor and personally I believe it’s the parent’s job.
Social Network sites are not all bad it’s just the way we choose to use it. From my experience Social Networks do a good job at developing Social skills for our youth, especially the shy ones. We have kids who are too shy to speak to people face to face and social networking allows them to interact with others without the pressure of face to face interaction. Those who choose to use it for bullying are wrong but that’s not a Social Network site problem, that’s a parent problem. Social Network sites gives us the ability to keep track of our children’s every move because they make it known for all to see including us parents. We can see who they really hang out with and what kind of conversations they’re having.
In closing, we have a chose on how we use these Social Network sites, we can use it for good or bad, it’s all up to us and the same thing goes for Ministry. I have watched these sites increase membership at our local churches and I have watched it decrease membership. It’s a great tool to promote the Gospel of Jesus Christ but it has also led people to leave the Gospel and get caught up into what the world has to offer. I have seen marriages in the church broken because of Social Network sites but I have also seen people get saved because of what someone has said on one of these sites so it’s how we use it. Personally I use it to spread the Gospel and many times I have thought about closing my profile because of all the worldly things I’ve seen especially from Born Again Believers. It can be so disappointing but then I think who will represent Christ. I know I’m not the only one but the more representing Christ the more we can spread HIS truth. So as long as unbelievers are on the Social Network sites I will be also to spread some Jesus love on them.
About the Writer
Sommer Crayton, is a Certified Life Coach and CEO of Transition Made Easy Life Coaching. Her niche is Spiritual Coaching where she assist Women/Young Girls with finding and maintaining a deep relationship with God in order to live a fulfilled life. She is also a Wife to Youth Pastor Christopher Crayton and Mother of three. For more on Coach Sommer visit www.sommercrayton.com.
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