News and information is all around us, all of the time,
everywhere we go, incessant, ubiquitous, demanding. Some people talk of information anywhere, anytime, but in
fact, isn’t it more a case of information
everywhere, all of the time?
Social media has given us the tools and facilities to become
connected to the Internet 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. And this is
increasingly a way of life for many people, as a recent newspaper survey
discovered. The survey asked respondents a series of questions to determine how
they used social media. According to the results:
- 1 in 3 smartphone owners would rather give up
sex than their mobile phone
- 90% of 18 – 29 year olds say they will sleep with
their phone in or beside their bed
- 23% go on Twitter more than 10 times a day,
- 51% check social network sites at dinner,
- 62% use their phones while shopping and
- 42% will stop a conversation if their phone
beeps.
One person was quoted:
“Sometimes I wake up in the night and reach
for my phone so I can do a Tweet”.
And another “I take pictures of my food, my
feet….pretty much anything and post it online”.
But let’s pause for a minute before condemning these
excesses as the norm for today’s social media users. These are extreme behaviours,
and hence why they were deemed newsworthy. Social media has brought enormous
benefits and triggered some massive changes to society. It’s no longer the case of injustice
prevailing where there is a lone voice pleading to be heard. That lone voice can
become many thousands, or even millions, when it is heard via the power of
online social networks such as Twitter or Facebook.
The catalyst for what has become known as the “Arab Spring”
was the self-immolation of Tunisian Mohamed
Bouazizi. Unable to find work and selling fruit at a roadside stand, a
municipal inspector confiscated his wares. An hour later he doused himself with
gasoline and set himself afire. His death on 4 January 2011 was
widely reported on social media, which brought together various groups
dissatisfied with the existing political system, including many unemployed,
political and human rights activists, ultimately triggering the Tunisian
revolution in search of equal rights and a more democratic government. As we
now know, this ultimately spread to other autocratic Arab states, including
Syria. This story is still unfolding, and quite where it will lead we do not
know. But the significance of mass communication via social media, where just
about anyone can have a voice – and be heard – cannot be underestimated as a
catalyst for change.
Nick Baines, the Bishop of Bradford, recently admitted that
the church had to find a better way of communicating with young people.
RichardChartres, the Bishop of London, wants to recruit 100,000 Christians by 2020 to
help communities and spread the gospel. In his Easter message he was reported
as saying
“…the church needed to understand social media better if it is to
connect with young people”. He went on to say: “Facebook has been the most
successful missionary movement of the past few years and the capacity of new
media to challenge and sometime dissolve corporations and long-established
institutions is huge”.
It’s only taken 6 years, but it’s encouraging to know
that, at last, the Church of England is taking social media seriously!
But let’s not think of social media purely as a tool for
young people. It has as much benefit – if not more – for those of mature years
(I neatly fit into this demographic!). More and more older people are finding
that Facebook is a way – maybe the only way – of connecting with friends and
family. Social networks can provide opportunities for learning a new skill, or
joining a club or just participating in online conversations. According to
a report on social media demographics, 27% of users of social networks are aged 45 and over.
And as if to prove that age is not a barrier to engaging with social media,
Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI took to Twitter at the age of 85, quickly building
up more than 1.6 million followers before signing off the social network on Feb
28th following his almost unprecedented resignation, sending a final thankful
tweet:
@Pontifex “
May you
always experience the joy that comes from putting Christ at the centre of your
lives.”
Or this from the Dalai Lama:
@Dalailama “Anger, hatred and jealousy never solve
problems, only affection, concern and respect can do that.”
So, coming back to the title of this piece, “would Jesus
have had a Twitter account?”. An admittedly irreverent title, but with a
serious intent. Jesus was only able to deliver his message to a relatively
small number of people; his disciples, followers and those who heard his sermons
or witnessed his miracles, and over a relatively short time span. We have to
rely on the accuracy of historical records, where his words have been
transcribed, translated, interpreted, published and preached over the
centuries. Would he have wanted to spread his message more widely, more quickly
and in his own words if he’d had the opportunity? Or did he know that his
message would achieve greater impact and persistence (but less accuracy) when
told and re-told through his disciples and followers? Answers on a postcard –
or better still – here on the St Michael’s Discussion Forum!
The key point is that we now live in a highly connected
world, a world where we no longer have to be passive consumers of news and
information. Social media has given us the tools to become active participants
in this global knowledge and information society. We’ve always had a voice, now we can make it
heard. It’s never been easier to find, connect and engage with people – so it’s
encouraging that the Church is now starting to take it seriously as part of its
outreach strategy.
If you would like to know more about St Michael’s use of
social media, or have an opinion on this article please contact me via the comments, or email Steve Dale:
steve.dale@gmail.com.
