Social Media, Techology & Balance

The Reality

ü  Digital and social media are rapidly changing our culture and world for both adults, teenagers, and now even preteens

ü  For this first time in 2019, the average time spent on digital media (3:43) surpassed time spent on the TV (3:35)

ü  Children and students spend an average of 5 or more hours every day one some type of electronic device including computers. 

ü  The average amount of daily time spent on social media is 2:22 with the highest rate among people age 16-24 spending an average of 3:02 per day

ü  81% of adults report going online at least once a day with 30% saying they are online almost constantly.  48% of those age 18-29 are online almost constantly throughout the day.   92% of teenagers report going online at least once more day and 24% say that they are online almost constantly. 

ü  70% of teenagers report using social media multiple times per day and 16% say it’s almost constantly. 

ü  70% of adults have Facebook and 74% report checking it daily. 

ü  In a Barna survey, 48% report there preteens have a smart phone and 88% of teenagers have a smart phone. (that’s a 41% increase from 2012)

ü  76% of teens age 13-17 use Instagram with 75% using Snapchat followed by 66% using Facebook (though many just have an account and don't use it regularly)

ü  57% of teenagers agree that using social media distracts from doing homework. 

ü  Most teens text with regularity but 40% report using another social media app for messaging like Kik, What’s App, and Line.  The average teenager sends over 60 texts per day. 

ü  82% of teens, 72% of preteens and 70% of parents confess to sleeping with their phones next to them at night.

ü  62% of adults said they checked their phone within the first hour of getting up in the morning.

ü  78% of parents believe raising kids is more complicated than it was than when they were kids and 65% report (#1 reason) that technology & social media is the reason why. 

Our Responsibility

ü  Recognize the Truth: Vs 15  

We have to be careful how we walk  

How:  Walk wisely, not unwisely

ü  Redeem the Time:  Vs 16

Make the most of every moment/ seize your opportunities

Why: the days are evil – size up your opposition

ü  Resolve to Track (Know)  Vs 17

To know & follow God’s will 

What:  Don’t be foolish – understand what the will of the Lord is 

ü  Release Your Control  Vs 18

Who:  Be full of the Spirit & not full of wine (drunkenness)

Our Resources & Responsibility

ü  Recognize the good and the bad that technology & social media can bring

ü  Remember that this phone can be a weapon & a danger in a person’s hands (porn, bullying, threats, suicide, false information, etc.)

ü  Recognize the amount of time that you spend on it

ü  Reduce the amount of time you spend on technology & social media - Consider taking a fast – one day a week or a week or even a month

ü  Reorder your priorities – Replace it with something else

ü  Refuse to cave to cultural and peer pressure -don’t Resign & Resist the Temptation  

ü  Resolve to have a family plan (when, how long, etc, what kinds, timeline)

ü  Realize there are apps, internet accountability, filters, etc that can you help supervise their use and not have surveillance

ü  Remind your students regularly about the responsibility that comes with technology and social media and the impact it can have on their life:  Reputation – will be with you for the rest of your life

ü  Represent (model) what it means to use technology in a healthy way - teach them balance (with accountability)

ü  Renew your walk with the Lord

Helpful Resources:

The Tech-Wise Family:  Everyday Steps for Putting Technology in It’s Place  By Andy Crouch Baker Books

Every Parent’s Guide to Navigating Our Digital World  By Kara Powell, Art Bamford, & Brad M. Griffin  Fuller Youth Institute

www.commonsensemedia.org

www.pluggedin.com