Social Websites—Good or Bad?

Despite what my kids may think, I was not alive when the light bulb was invented, or when Orville and Wilber Wright flew their first plane, or when the first automobile rolled down the street, frightening horses and small children. Although one son did tell me I looked like a T-Rex when I typed on my laptop computer, I think he knows that I’m not living in the “dark ages”—you know, back when people used pen and paper to express their ideas instead of computers and text messages. I was not one who used to say, “If men were meant to fly, God would have given them wings.”

Anytime there is new technology or media coming out, it seems many people ask the question if it is good or bad. When talking movies first came out, many questioned if society was going to regret it. When TV sets were being placed in nearly every home, was that a good thing? How about today’s new social media? We now have Facebook and Twitter that allows us to post our thoughts and activities within seconds, for the world to see. We have the ability to play video games with someone from Scotland and talk by video link using Skype, or a smart phone or iPod Touch. Is that good?

We’ve all heard about evil uses of such devices. The congressman who sent out immoral photos of himself has been in the news lately. We have crime units in our own county that are involved in internet stings to apprehend child molesters. And it is true that gossips and slanderers can now spread their poison at the speed of cyberspace, causing great damage to the people of God and His church. But does that make the technology evil?

The truth is that the radio is neither good nor evil. The blessing, or the curse, is with the one who is broadcasting. The same is true about Facebook. It is a tool. Just like hammers can be used to build something or destroy something, emails and text messages can be used to build up, or tear down. Put the hammer in the hands of a carpenter and you might have a house to live in. Put the hammer in the hands of a three-year old, and you might need to replace the house you live in! The internet is like a power tool! There needs to be a little maturity on the part of the user before we turn him loose with it.

We need to be careful not to say something about a person on Facebook that we would not say to her face to face, or in front of her mother, or with TV cameras pointed at us. Our message may be read by more people than those who watch the evening news! Even an email can be mistakenly shared with others you did not expect to read it.

Jesus taught that we should let our “yes” mean “yes” and our “no” mean “no.” The words of our lives must be true to our hearts’ intent. They are an expression of our heart. That is especially true on the internet. What you type today cannot be taken back once it is posted, and there is a good chance your great-grandchildren might be able to retrieve it one day once it is out there.

Some may suggest that it is better to let the technology pass us by. “Who needs to send a text-message when you can just pick up the same phone and call the person?” they say. The answer lies in the fact that the technology can be used for good. It can be used to help the old, old story be told in a new and relevant way. It can be used to remind your spouse that you are thinking about her and you love her all the more. Recently, I took a close-up picture of my eye and sent it to my daughter’s boyfriend and sent the text, “I have my eye on you.” Isn’t technology great?