Be eHoly The Social Media Effect

1. Be eHolyThe Social Media Effect Pine Valley 2012 Sunday Adult Forum By George Miclea

2. Social Media 2012 Revolution [₁]

3. Why “eHoly?” • 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

4. What is Social Media? • 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

5. What is Social Media?

6. Why talk about 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

7. By August 2012, Facebook is expected to reach 1 Billion users worldwide • That’s around 14% of the world population!

8. It is the process of putting us into the web [2] • We aren’t just using the Internet, • we are becoming a part of it. [2] Romans 12:1-2 instructs us to not be conformed to the pattern of this world, butwhat is the current pattern? How can we tell?

9. The Net Generation • 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

10. Digital Immigrants[3] • 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. Marc Prensky, (2001) "Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants Part 1", On the Horizon, Vol. 9 Iss: 5, pp.1 - 6

11. Teen Forum Survey Here’s what your kids had to say… Survey conducted at Pine Valley Weekend Retreat Youth Forum 2012-05-26

12. 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) 85% of them are girls 1 in 7 teens feel “alone” despite being well connected online

13. 4 in 6 said their parents also had a Facebook account 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 Average time on the Internet per day: 2 to 3 hours

14. 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 regretted 1 out of 7 teens also admitted to visiting sites containing pornographic content (with frequency ranging from daily to monthly)

15. 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.

16. Their two most commonly used acronyms? LOL OMG Used by 3 out of 5Teens Used by 1 out of 3Teens Do you know what they stand for?

17. When asked their overall thought of social media: 3% said It’s Dangerous and I don’t use it 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

18. Effects of Social Media • 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

19. Negative Effects • 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

20. Positive 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.

24. Digital Identity What is your “brand?” What you say/do online represents who you are …and its there for good.

25. “Custom” 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.

26. My Life Represents…. • 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

27. Age of Connectivity

28. It’s a Small World After All • 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

29. Unwanted connections • 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]

30. Is social media bringing us closer together or pushing us farther apart?

31. 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

32. Alone Together? • 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?

33. “If we don’t teach our kids how to be alone, they will grow up to be lonely” [7]

34. Connected…and Lonely • 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

35. Redefining “conversation”

36. Is this a conversation? Your kids say, “Yes, it is” Many kids today say they would “rather txt than talk”

37. Connection vs. Conversation • 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 Post Tweet

38. Redefining “conversation” • 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.

39. How is this affecting the kids in the Net Generation? • 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.

40. “…someday, someday, but certainly not now, I would like to learn how to have a conversation…” 18 yr old male [8]

41. Conversation with God? Have we traded in true relationship for mere connection With JESUS

42. The Cyberchurch • 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?

43. 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

44. 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

45. 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 “…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

46. Dr. Ravi Zacharias Was asked two questions: [10] What are the dangers of social media? How can young people safeguard themselves from these dangers?

47. Dr. Ravi Zacharias Was asked two questions: [10] What are the dangers of social media? How can young people safeguard themselves from these dangers?

48. Harnessing Social Media • 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.

49. 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

50. Wake Up Call • 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