Note: Each year the Lake Ministerial Association holds an essay contest. The winner is awarded a $500 scholarship to be used for school or a mission trip. In past years themes have ranged from “Christian Unity” to leaders who have exhibited a passion for unity and justice such as Martin Luther King Jr. and C.S. Lewis. This year students were asked to write on “Ethical Use of Social Media.” The ministerial association is delighted to announce the winner was Rio Dominguez a senior at Clear Lake High School. His essay is included below.
Responsibility in Social Media by Rio Dominguez
In today’s world, we have immense power at our fingertips. With everything the internet has to offer, anyone can post, search, and stream just about anything. With this power comes responsibility within social media, and I can think of no better example of this responsibility than our own church’s youth group, NARWHALs (New Adventurers Ready to Worship Him And Love).
Everyone can tell you that social media is great for communicating and sending messages. But don’t take that so lightly and underestimate what it means. Facebook is how we come together and meet. From mission trips to lesson plans, from Bible studies to potlucks. Social media has helped bring us together in community and God. In fact, that is how many of our youth have joined the church. Teenagers and young adults are often reached through the internet, as it is where lots of their time is spent.
Social media has also kept us updated in current events, both within and outside the church. Pastor Shannon has told us about job offerings she has heard of, and if I ever can’t make it to church that Sunday, Facebook is how I let her know. We have planned fundraisers for the church such as yard sales and tea parties. It helps get the word out and let people know about what is going on. Social media is how people join new groups and Bible studies that often become available through the internet. I myself am joining a Bible study called CREW at the college where I will be attending. And I learned about this over the internet!
The NARWHALs are not the only group to benefit from social media. Blogs over the internet have helped for years to answer questions that people have. One example of this is a problem that my friend handled herself. An internet user had a question that even his pastor could not seem to answer: “Why are Christians deemed hateful.” My friend explained that hate is not a part of Christianity, and the conversation continued until my friend left knowing that she had just given a stranger a newfound confidence in his religion. Blogs can accomplish this and much more because they are open to anyone who wishes to be a part of the ongoing conversation. They help to be a healthy influence in the world and over the internet.
All of the things I have mentioned so far are examples of how we are responsible when we use social media. Our youth group shows how people use websites like Facebook to be positive and encouraging. We don’t bully others, which can sadly end in tragic ways. But the NARWHALs are not the only source of responsibility over social media and the internet. There are millions of people who use social media not for their own selfish uses, but to better the world and other people’s lives. Whether it is spreading the Word of God to those in need, or taking advantage of easy communication methods, social media is being used for good all over the world.
As is evident, social media has been used to help people all over the world. It can even be seen locally, in Lake County and within our own United Christian Parish church. Whether it is bringing people together or informing us of ongoing events, the internet has helped to spread the good news in our lives.
