"We must refuse to participate in the 'Internet of Beefs' by refraining from harming others, being truthful in our pronouncements, and refraining from stealing the work, words, or reputations of others." - Acton
“It is easy to understand why someone surrounded by the mob surrenders to its power, but those corporate boardrooms are far from the fray and well-protected…. So why have they turned their backs on law and order and embraced the mob? What has changed since the 1960s that makes it so much harder for leaders in government, business and culture to condemn violence and lawlessness?” - RealClearPolitics
"Information, disinformation, and narratives now spread globally between billions of people at the push of a button. Solana observes this did indeed occur, for good or for ill, with the COVID-19 pandemic" - Acton
"What we often end up doing is speaking before listening, and driving wedges between people who should live in love and unity. I read one writer recently on Facebook who said that spiritual leaders have a responsibility to use social media as a channel for influence, but there are some major obstacles .... I am just going to be transparent here about my own problems and concerns about posting on social media." - P&D
"Given the enduring importance of conspiracy theories, I want to circle back to some of the criticism of the DNS article before focusing on few preliminary suggestions on how Christians can begin to think through healthy online habits." - Andrew MacDonald
It is no revelation that social media are dominant forms of communication in this digital age, but the stats are breathtaking. A remarkable 78% of 18-24 year olds in the U.S. use Snapchat, and 94% of that age demographic are regular YouTube users, while 71% use Instagram. More than two-thirds (68%) of all U.S. adults use Facebook, and 75% of those users are daily users. The typical American uses three social media platforms regularly.1 In short, the various platforms of social media are preferred means of communication for an overwhelming majority of Americans.
"Long-running internecine media feuds, emblematic of the degradation of mass media as they are, are merely the smoke set off by the burning desire for one, all-consuming narrative....The only story we need to get straight is the story that really matters. Grounded in that story, the greatest ever told, we can deepen our understanding of ourselves and our world.
I wrote last week about my enthusiasm for online ministry, and my view that one good result of the current crisis is that it has forced us to sharpen our online presence—while it has also given us the opportunity to do so.
This is not to say, however, that there is nothing worrisome about the current approach that many are taking to online ministry.
One trend that has been very striking to me is how churches have relied on posting their messages and services on Facebook and YouTube.
