In a recent interview with The Telegraph, Archbishop Vincent Nichols said social networking sites such as Facebook and MySpace are "leading teenagers to build transient relationships" that may ultimately lead them to commit suicide when these online friendships dissolve.
The Archbishop also pointed the finger at mobile phones, texting and footballer's (soccer) as contributing to the "dehumanization of society and eroding our social skills."
Among the Archbishop's concerns:
- “Among young people often a key factor in them committing suicide is the trauma of transient relationships. They throw themselves into a friendship or network of friendships, then it collapses and they’re desolate.”
- “Facebook and MySpace might contribute towards communities, but I’m wary about it. It’s not rounded communication so it won’t build a rounded community … If we mean by community a genuine growing together and a mutual sharing in an interest that is of some significance then it needs more than Facebook.”
- “We’re losing social skills, the human interaction skills, how to read a person’s mood, to read their body language, how to be patient until the moment is right to make or press a point. Too much exclusive use of electronic information dehumanises what is a very, very important part of community life and living together.”
- I think that the Archbishop does, in fact, bring up a couple good points. There are times when we have all been guilty of using social media or texting on our mobile phone as an "escape" from the stress in our "real life." Let's be honest: It's easy to be sucked into the always-on world.
- He's also on target when he worries about people using electronic information and social media as their primary means of interpersonal communication. As with most things, moderation is the key.
- Where the Archbishop gets a bit "off course" is his assertion that social networking friendships are "transient." Most research on social networking and Millennials has found that they use sites like Facebook along with texting on mobile phones, as a way to communicate with their "real life" friends, not with strangers.
For most teens, social technology works as a bridge between their online and offline worlds. In many ways, since they know that they can use technology to instantaneously reach their peers at any given moment, makes for a stronger social safety net.
It would be easy to just dismiss the Archbishop as someone who just doesn't "get" what's going on with kids today. But as I outlined above, he does have some valid points.
Towards that end, it's important for parents' to monitor their kids use of technology and when it becomes excessive, have them turn it off and connect with the other members of the family.
To the Archbishop I would encourage him to follow the lead of Pope Benedict, who has launched both a Facebook page, YouTube channel and iPhone App, and try using social media in his own practice as a tool to reach out to his younger audience. A podcast or even an official Twitter stream that contains news, information and links to quality content.
The younger parishioners aren't going to stop using social media. It's here to stay. But they are young and this is a teachable moment to help them learn how to use this technology in a productive and sustainable manner.
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