Orkut … My Space … Hi5 …. Where are you?

Social Networking – A unique opportunity
The Internet has become the most important electronic tool that man ever had. Internet has revolutionized the computer and communications world like nothing before. The invention of the telegraph, telephone, radio, and computer set the stage for this unprecedented integration of capabilities. The Internet is at once a world-wide broadcasting capability, a mechanism for information dissemination, and a medium for collaboration and interaction between individuals and their computers without regard for geographic location.
Growth of World Wide Web (www) is remarkable. In short span of ten years, it has jumped from being a minority hobby for computer enthusiasts to a communication medium used by over 1000 million people worldwide. If your visit to our website lasts ten minutes, in that time interval 460 people will have used the Web for their very first time.
Year 2003 witnessed a drastic growth in the field of interactive websites. Unlike other Medias like print, television and radio, Interactive websites give the users a feeling that they are interacting with a medium that is responding to their needs. The growth of social networking starts here Myspace.com came up with a unique platform to find friends online. (The concept of social networking and sites for that was in existence even before that). In a small span of time, it marked a tremendous growth.
What is Social Networking?
A social network is a map of the relationships between individuals, indicating the ways in which they are connected through various social familiarities ranging from casual acquaintance to close familial bonds. Social Networking over internet picks the same concept. And more interestingly, the personal bonds between people helped this media to grow like any thing. You might be surprised to hear these figures… The social networking site Myspace.com alone had 41,889 million unique visitors as on March’06. And it is calculated to be having 47% growth in a year. There are hundreds of such websites. Think of the potential. A small survey conducted among the students associated with our ministry in Trichy, revealed that 63% are regular in such sites. Author could find only 3% of student who is not having membership in such sites. Author made an attempt to verify the membership growth of such sites and loaded such a site in his own personal domain name (rolled back after verification). The result was amazing. In just three days, without any advertisement or personal hooking more than 50 visitors took membership and joined the community.

What is our role?

This is not a negligible community. 89% of them are below 30 years and 78% are students. Author’s research about the attitude of the members of such groups reveals that things are not heading a positive direction. Most of the people on such site seek intimate relations without obligation. They would rather like to have “one-day-in-one-day-out” friendship rather than a continuing relationship. They can speak whatever they like. They can put whatever photos they like to they can have relations with anybody they feel comfortable with.
As a community, vigil in youth affairs, here is a place we should be. This is a place where people are always present. We can meet people online in a variety of ways, and as we build relationships, we can talk to them, counsel them, if needed.
• this is where Youths hang out, so we need to be there too
• it is not necessarily always ‘safe’, but then, the Internet as a whole is not ‘safe’. The world outside your front door is not ‘safe’ either.
• visiting and engaging with people at MySpace like sites is not the same as saying to young or immature Christians that they should visit the site.
• like any other area of ministry, this is a calling. If you are not equipped for it, have vulnerabilities, and above all, are not called to do it – then don’t do it.
• some parents have expressed concern about younger teens using MySpace like sites. It is of course up to parents to judge what guidance they give to teens of different ages, within the wider context of understanding the web world and youth culture, and how to relate positively to that as a Christian.
• older Christian teens, especially those with a heart for evangelism online, can be encouraged to use this opportunity, and training for this purpose within a youth group would be valuable.
Providing alternatives for such sites is another field which we can think of. But it should be done in a much careful way! We should understand the nature of the web and act accordingly. There are a handful of Christian alternatives to such sites, but author failed to come across such a site which is well controlled. Our purpose, if providing an alternative, is to offer a safer social networking place on web, which is family-friendly and a comfortable place for people of any religious belief or none.
Our passion is to reach the young generation. Author would like to use the terms “Push Evangelism” and “Pull Evangelism”. We excel in “Push-Evangelism”, but usually we are keeping away from “Pull Evangelism”. (Push Evangelism refers to the method in which we go to people, while Pull Evangelism refers to the method in which we pull people in and evangelize them) Providing alternative site falls in the later category.
This is not just in the black and white, but is practical. And the author has accomplished it. During late night hours, (IST) author could find many young bloods on net and could provide for their spiritual needs. I encourage you all, if you have a calling towards Webevangelism, do it. Technical expertise is not required! Only a heart with passion will do.
There are many other opportunities of evangelism on web! I’d like to explore into the details, but not now…You can expect it in the next post.
Regards,
Tim Thomas
Note: Author has reviewed many articles on net to make up this writing. I hereby express my sincere thanks and gratitude to the Webevangelism International for providing me necessary resources for all my Christian Tech articles.

Article Source: http://www.christiannotepad.com

Please feel free to contact me! christian@christianyouthonline.org www.christianyouthonline.org