Sermon

Faith and Social Media

Crofton Park Baptist Church

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  1. Welcome to Young Voices for Christ,

  2. a podcast brought to you by a passionate group of young adults from Crofton Park

  3. Baptist Church here in South London in Brockley

  4. Here they come together to share their faith, explore life's

  5. big questions, and celebrate the journey of following Christ.

  6. Join them as they delve into inspiring stories, engaging

  7. discussions and heartfelt reflections,

  8. all aimed at encouraging and uplifting your walk with God.

  9. Whether you're seeking spiritual growth, community or just a dose of inspiration,

  10. Young Voices for Christ is here to light your path.

  11. Good afternoon and welcome to this episode of,

  12. Young Voices for Christ

  13. and in this podcast today we're going to be talking about faith

  14. and social media, how they mix and down the line.

  15. Today we have got two people calling in today.

  16. So we've got Ope and we have Lum and I'll let them introduce themselves to you.

  17. So Ope if you'd like to go first.

  18. Good evening people my name’s Opeyemi.

  19. I'm 26, and I came to the faith from a very, very young age.

  20. I grew up in a church, and I'd say I discovered Christ for myself

  21. around 11 or 12.

  22. Truly, when I, you know, I've always presents myself.

  23. My hobbies.

  24. I like Japanese basketball history and, martial arts as well.

  25. Thank you.

  26. Thank you. And.

  27. Lum?If by. Hi, everyone.

  28. Good evening.

  29. I'm called Lum.

  30. I'm 26 years old.

  31. I came to Christ at 17.

  32. And since then, I've had quite an interesting journey.

  33. So I'm happy to join you guys on this podcast to present to you.

  34. on the topic we’ll be talking on..

  35. Brilliant.

  36. So welcome both. So,

  37. first of all, I'm gonna probably ask if either of you

  38. because I guess we need the experience to be able to talk about this topic

  39. are either of you actually active on social media.

  40. I'm very active on social media.

  41. Actually, when I saw this topic it really reflected on my life as well.

  42. I’m a very active social media girl..

  43. So what channels do you use?

  44. All of them, or is there some that you spend most of your time on or.

  45. I use WhatsApp a lot.

  46. I use YouTube.

  47. I use Twitter, not very often.

  48. Instagram. Very rarely.

  49. Okay.

  50. The sites that I use it for media for school.

  51. A lot, but that's the main for now.

  52. All right.

  53. How about you?

  54. I'd say I'm active,

  55. but not in the same way as I used to be when I was much younger.

  56. I would be posting things, jumping into discussions, sharing my voice more so.

  57. But I'd say over the last I say six or so years

  58. I've been using social media more so for, branding cause I do content creation.

  59. So for me, when I do use social media, whether it's YouTube, Twitter or

  60. sometimes, well, Twitch as well, it's more so to,

  61. produce content rather than engage in certain discussions.

  62. But I do tend to read what people say and evaluate it myself.

  63. But as in for jumping into it specifically in conversations.

  64. I don't do that as much anymore.

  65. Okay.

  66. So, I was going to ask you now how you use

  67. social media, in which ways you use it,

  68. but there's so many different ways to use it, I guess.

  69. But if we were to look at it as, I mean, the topic today is faith

  70. and social media, how would you say

  71. we could use social media itself as a mission field?

  72. Well, how would you?

  73. I will told you I would come across, I would say a good way to do that would be.

  74. Well, for one, is sharing the Word

  75. I'd say it's a really good way to capture the algorithm.

  76. And you'd be surprised how many people will see your posts.

  77. We think that just because you're not getting

  78. a lot of viewers or followers, the people aren’t seeing our posts

  79. when they're not being seen, and that's not the case.

  80. And even if that, means sharing a Bible verse

  81. or putting a scripture for discussion, I think it was a

  82. one of the easier ways to promote the Word promote your faith as well.

  83. Would you say,

  84. would you agree with that Lum or have you've got some other ideas?

  85. I do agree with what he just said.

  86. I'm personally being introverted.

  87. The highest, the easiest to have found.

  88. Sharing the Word of God on social media is through WhatsApp.

  89. As he said, posting scriptures, on your status, for example.

  90. you could just make it a habit every day you put a scripture on it.

  91. I just remember there was this time a friend of mine, she gave this testimony

  92. that she was going through a hard time in her life and this is someone’s status.

  93. She constantly looked at every day and that person had scriptures.

  94. And coincidentally, those scriptures helped her

  95. it spoke to her every single day.

  96. So you realize the importance, the essence of

  97. using your status correctly to just share scripture.

  98. Share a message.

  99. You may not know the impact you're creating,

  100. but that message is helping someone.

  101. And that's true.

  102. And of course, we realize that

  103. those who remember that it's not our job to change people it’s

  104. the Word of God that changes people.

  105. So as children of God it’s our main task to keep the Word out there

  106. so we can do that through our status putting our status

  107. for those who are more extrovert.

  108. You probably do videos I’ve watched a couple of people

  109. on Instagram, they put videos on TikTok, they put videos.

  110. And if you look at it, it was quite up quite,

  111. famous preachers who have who broadcast,

  112. their services on social media accounts on YouTube there’s even this program

  113. I attended once and it was held on YouTube all over the world.

  114. So I think that

  115. that's what we can use all those means to propagate the Word of God.

  116. You could have a YouTube channel and put videos on Instagram.

  117. You could put pictures to Tik Tok,

  118. you could make short clips about the Word of God,

  119. about even a testimony, something God has done for you.

  120. But I think the essence of all those platforms is for us to use

  121. it as children of God to send out the Word of God,

  122. which will impact people's life, because the Word of God truly has power.

  123. Amen to that.

  124. I notice we've just been joined by,

  125. Pippa she just joined us on the call. So.

  126. Hello Hi.

  127. Hi Pippa we're going to we're talking about faith and social media.

  128. We've only just about started,

  129. and we were talking about how we can use social media as a mission field.

  130. And the couple of examples we've spoken about now,

  131. sharing the Word of God

  132. through the social media channels, that for me would be the obvious one.

  133. But how would you and I'm going to direct this question to you Pippa

  134. maybe you can come in on this one.

  135. How would you go about sharing God's love

  136. and the Word without being, I'm going to use the word preachy.?

  137. So, you know, some people might get turned off as soon as you start mentioning

  138. Jesus or the Bible or stuff like that, because they just think

  139. it doesn't apply to me and I don't want it.

  140. I don't, I don't I didn't come on here to hear that.

  141. So how would you go about

  142. still showing God's love through your interactions on social media?

  143. But without what people are calling.

  144. I think

  145. maybe in the sense of like creatives online,

  146. it really depends on what speaks to a person.

  147. So I'm like really invested in things like comics and art.

  148. And I've been following this one account recently that posts like

  149. it's like her own,

  150. visualization of the New Testament.

  151. So she's made this whole comment, this comic,

  152. following like the disciples and things and even people

  153. who aren't like, baptized aren't followers of the faith or anything.

  154. They find that they enjoy engaging in content like that because

  155. it feels very human for them.

  156. The same way that The Prince of Egypt was such a big blockbuster movie,

  157. and it was about the Exodus, about Moses’s story.

  158. It's because there's a way that art, I feel like relates to people,

  159. especially through like channels, like social media, being able to share

  160. like, creative visualizations, a story like that.

  161. And because they are stories, there's like always ways to,

  162. make them relatable in a sense,

  163. make you feel more human, more, realistic than sometimes.

  164. Myths and fables tend to be and that;’s like the difference

  165. with like sharing the Word online in these kind of formats,

  166. because it feels more like a just a story, like a human story

  167. that could happen to anyone, if that makes sense.

  168. Yeah, that sounds quite right.

  169. I was going to say as well, I think.

  170. Was it Fran or one of the preachers in recent times did mention

  171. something about the ability to be able to preach without saying a word.

  172. So sometimes when you're interacting with people on social media

  173. as well, the way you interact can actually show the love of God.

  174. So they might be talking about something else

  175. and your manner and the way you respond and the language you use or don't use.

  176. Could also, in a way, make people

  177. kind of sit up and take notice and go, what's this person about?

  178. I'd like to know who you know. Where do they get that optimism from?

  179. Where did they get that bright, attitude from?

  180. And the more they kind of delve in because like you say,

  181. if you find something and you like their content

  182. that kind of appeals to you, you might start looking for more content.

  183. And the more they get involved in what you're about

  184. and they start to figure out, oh, okay, this person is a Christian.

  185. This person follows God.

  186. And maybe that's why they are as bright,

  187. optimistic and hopeful and faithful as they are.

  188. So that's another way of doing it.

  189. So that's that's fine.

  190. So we know social media is a minefield of everything

  191. good, bad and ugly, mostly the bad and ugly. So

  192. what what ways can we

  193. kind of stay true to our values when we're engaging in stuff?

  194. So, for instance, what would trigger me now is if somebody puts post out about

  195. maybe Trump or something or some injustice or something to do with racism.

  196. So how do you how do you stay true to your values

  197. when you're faced with those kind of situations?

  198. Or do you not get involved in those kind of conversations.

  199. When you see those conversations, you just walk away,?

  200. Not necessarily.

  201. I won’t walk away In most cases, I hope as long as I'm not,

  202. I don't let myself get angry about

  203. at times.

  204. It's possible to get mad about it but I also remember, I remind myself that

  205. As a child of God am allowed to get angry.

  206. that is true I should learn how to control my anger?

  207. And I should not let it get to me.

  208. Rather My pastor once mentioned

  209. that the church is a place for people who are sick.

  210. So me being more aware of the fact that these people saying

  211. these or doing these things, I know of the fact that most of them

  212. are not aware of the fact that what they are doing is wrong,

  213. it’s my job as a child of God, as a Christian, to indeed correct them.

  214. So it's true.

  215. If someone posted a comment or something that is quite rude or quite insulting,

  216. insulting the person back is very is is

  217. doesn't solve it.

  218. Two wrongs do not make a right do they?

  219. So I think the best way to heal person is to show love,

  220. as you mentioned earlier about that.

  221. And anther way of sharing the Word of God

  222. so you can share the work without having to talk,

  223. but the way in which we talk

  224. or the way in which we respond to people can still show God's love.

  225. So I think, for instance, an instance,

  226. the best way I shown the best thing I think I can do is to respond in love

  227. so the person can see the person is trying to provoke,

  228. response out of your native response.

  229. They respond in love and the person sees that there's something,

  230. no matter how different people people are in the world.

  231. Love is something that everyone wants.

  232. Kindness is something everyone wants.

  233. So I think the best way to respond to this is show love and to show kindness,

  234. irrespective of how it makes you.

  235. Irrespective of how

  236. So how bad it may seem or how hurtful we may have been for you.

  237. Even Jesus was, Stephen was taunted A lot of disciples,

  238. went through a lot of terrible things they were stoned

  239. and by people they were preaching to for them to get saved

  240. But still they didn't curse

  241. even when Stephen was stoned because they will say,

  242. father, please forgive them, for they did not know what they are doing.

  243. So the best for me, the best reaction.

  244. What I've learned so far on the Word of God is always to show

  245. love, also show kindness, and always to and to pray always.

  246. Let God help these people to come to know Him

  247. so that we all can be transformed, and we all can be changed.

  248. So actually.

  249. It's kind of a toxic environment as well. It's also,

  250. how do you I mean,

  251. there's a challenge there as well, how you don't get sucked into it.

  252. I'm not sure if you've ever heard of the Berean Cell or something like that.

  253. It's almost like

  254. where you're trying to the people you're trying to reach.

  255. If you're not careful, you can be tempted and end up

  256. making the mistakes that they're making because you're kind of sucked into

  257. that space.

  258. So I'm just wondering how we deal

  259. with those kind of toxic influences.

  260. I'd say a way of dealing with it is,

  261. I think, going back to, you know, who we are and what identity is.

  262. And as believers as, as those in the body of Christ,

  263. we know that certain standards we’re meant to uphold.

  264. And certain values are meant to not only, abide by, but to share also.

  265. And, you know, as Lum was talking about how we engage and showing love,

  266. you know, showing grace to people and praying people as well.

  267. You know, we understand that, about art, carnal, the spiritual.

  268. So in that regard, as we know that

  269. when it comes to and influences of certain people,

  270. we know that it’s not necessarily the person we're dealing with

  271. but it’s the spirit behind that person we're dealing with.

  272. I think that perspective does help, and I think sometimes

  273. the best way to combat that is either to not engage in those circles.

  274. But when they do arise or you are being attacked, directly

  275. it is to confront, as Lum says, with love and, it's easier said than done.

  276. But I do think even what Lum touched on to, before we saw discussion

  277. about being intentional with,

  278. what we do and how we respond to things does matter.

  279. So being intentional with, how we talk to people,

  280. how we interact with people and ensuring that we're still showing our love

  281. and that grace.

  282. I think those are ways we can, combat those, negative influences on social media.

  283. You know?

  284. But yeah, I agree as well.

  285. I think one of the common, I don't know if pitfalls is the right word,

  286. but something I see a lot maybe not,

  287. in the UK specifically, but on like people

  288. I follow who are Americans videos and things on TikTok.

  289. The comments that they get on videos not really relating

  290. to faith or religion, where there's a lot of Christians in the comments,

  291. saying that they want to pray for them, which is a kind thing to do.

  292. And it's like the way that you lead your life as a Christian.

  293. It's just something you go out of your way to do because you care

  294. about the state this other person's in, and you would like to

  295. just say that you're thinking of them and they trying to do good things for them.

  296. But at the same time, it's kind of,

  297. putting them at a disadvantage because

  298. it doesn't really like it doesn't relate

  299. to what the person's like talking about or sharing online,

  300. but it's not something that they wanted if that makes sense.

  301. So now they feel like they're being somewhat attacked in that sense.

  302. So I feel like navigating social media, especially comments

  303. and like those kind of like discussion groups.

  304. As a Christian, I feel like sometimes we can feel like we're very much

  305. not wanted in this discussions or that,

  306. help or advice isn't wanted.

  307. And it feels like there's a very negative connotation.

  308. But I feel like if we

  309. like address

  310. the not correct situations with situations

  311. where someone's open and like, willing to hearing us out or hearing that,

  312. that kind of perspective,

  313. because I feel like sometimes on social media everything's very

  314. everyone's in a bubble.

  315. It's very close minded.

  316. No one wants to hear the other side's point or just hear

  317. anything that they think they disagree with.

  318. So I feel like that's something with social media as well.

  319. That quite happens quite a lot.

  320. I think that's one of the reasons why it's always good to get,

  321. that kind of, I would say balanced opinion.

  322. I think it's, it's what Lum said about prayers is important because before

  323. you go into that kind of territory, you do need to be prepared

  324. because you can easily slip and slide into,

  325. a mire of comments and stuff that could trigger you.

  326. So going in prepared is always good.

  327. I think monitoring

  328. how much time you spend in those areas as well is also good because,

  329. nowadays with the algorithms, the kind of stuff is fed to you.

  330. It comes at you in such a torrent on on the news today that we're talking about,

  331. these kids died from doing that challenge challenge

  332. a couple of years ago or so, and they're suing TikTok.

  333. Because they said the amount of material and stuff

  334. that was coming at them based on the algorithm was more then

  335. I guess it's for someone and can deal with can handle.

  336. So you might not even realize you're

  337. being you’re being, what's happening to you?

  338. You're just getting stimulated by all of this content just coming at you.

  339. So looking after that screen time, I think is, is is is an important thing.

  340. Just checking yourself to make sure you're not staying on there for too long,

  341. setting your boundaries on that and what content you engage in.

  342. And I think as well, it's also important to kind of be discerning

  343. about the content you engage in, because some of it starts off as innocent,

  344. but it's always good to find out the source.

  345. Like you said,

  346. if someone's giving you if you see something you like

  347. liking it straight away without finding out

  348. what else this person's about or what else ihs, channel’s about,

  349. you start to get stuff from this.

  350. And what they give you might just be to entice you in

  351. because it kind of appeals to you.

  352. But then what they’re really about isn't that so?

  353. And I hear what you're saying, Pippa about in some of these places,

  354. what we've got to say, may not always be welcome.

  355. But if you think about it,

  356. Jesus always had a word for people who didn't want to hear his message.

  357. And I think it's how you frame it.

  358. It is whether or not they want to hear your message.

  359. And yes, I think I know social media is very polarized right now.

  360. You have to pick a tribe.

  361. You belong to 5 or 6 of them

  362. and not really know which one you stand for in the end of it. But

  363. if you kind of spend a lot of time in prayer,

  364. God will give you the words you need sometimes to just

  365. decide, I'm just going to leave this word

  366. here in the comments and whoever takes it takes it whoever.

  367. I don't take it. It's good.

  368. I've done my bit

  369. I’m moving on

  370. because you can't bash somebody

  371. over the head with a rock and say, you must believe.

  372. You must believe.

  373. So, I mean, we talk a lot about the dangers,

  374. and I think it's important of us understanding, the data, social media.

  375. And, I mean, we've got grown people here all over 20.

  376. So I'm sure you pretty much know the dangers of social media.

  377. You might not have known about that when you were in your teens.

  378. Things

  379. like cyberbullying, addiction and fake news.

  380. I mean, what's what's what's been your experience of those three

  381. and how kind of advice would you say you are at picking up

  382. on that kind of, that kind of stuff that's out there?

  383. And with if I'm traveling, this is something I've experienced

  384. personally because I don't put content on social media,

  385. or if it's not the scripture, then I'm not there at all.

  386. I can just view won't do anything with cyberbullying.

  387. I've seen a couple of people,

  388. but these people are not even Christians and other people

  389. I don't know, but at times could check in your comment sections.

  390. I see some many bad things, so definitely just don't kill yourself.

  391. I'm looking at it.

  392. Makes me feel like, oh, how do we manage to get to the point

  393. where they and I can just tell someone will kill them?

  394. So like the human being that someone's child, a son, sister

  395. or family like empathy is something that

  396. be. What about Christians or not?

  397. At least we should have.

  398. But then we see that it's so rampant nowadays.

  399. People insulting online, people wishing the worst for each the online

  400. and it's so bad because then the new generation,

  401. the young generation that's coming up, that's all the

  402. those the kids are exposed to that they see and they pick it up.

  403. Knowing that is easy.

  404. It is is so much is is just looking for someone online.

  405. If you want to say things to people online, remember listen to this person.

  406. Want to possibly Facebook?

  407. Click on the person said

  408. The reason she doesn't let those things affect her

  409. is because she knows that the people in the anglophones

  410. who write those things online, they did probably meet her in person.

  411. They won't be courageous enough to say those things to their faces.

  412. So I just I just want to realize that because what

  413. whether or not we are Christians as well, if our words have an impact

  414. in what you say to someone, what about what comes out of your mouth?

  415. Missus will understand that

  416. we'll give an account for every word that leaves us mouth.

  417. So strange for myself, wanting to be cautious of something, to be.

  418. Oh, well, I want to be careful.

  419. Now, what do I think I'm saying?

  420. I should be cautious with the fact

  421. that it won't have a negative impact on someone else.

  422. What if you just tell someone?

  423. Okay, so when a person's going to make that a mental breakdown or something

  424. that actually goes and kills himself, can you be responsible for that?

  425. And is so,

  426. the thing is false for thought to oh well, Devils, let's be careful

  427. also for all of us to know that our words have an impact.

  428. Both truly have an impact on first.

  429. So trust. Well, some

  430. sensitize you to what these are.

  431. Friends are colleagues or classmates about the way

  432. we talk to people who have nothing good to see.

  433. Just keep quiet.

  434. You will see something if you have nothing positive to say, nothing good to see.

  435. Just keep quiet and it won't hurt anyone.

  436. You know there's a word for that.

  437. What's it mean?

  438. So Ephesians 429

  439. says that do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouth,

  440. but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs.

  441. They may benefit those who listen.

  442. I guess if I was to be a English translation now I'm doing the translation.

  443. You must not let any unwholesome look come out of your mouth,

  444. but only what is beneficial for the building up for the one in need.

  445. That it will give grace to those who hear.

  446. So kind of sums up what you just said, the apostle.

  447. You're going to say something?

  448. Yeah, I'll just speak in agreement.

  449. When it comes to,

  450. what we say, even online, is true.

  451. Everything carries an energy.

  452. And, you know, as part of life and death on a tongue.

  453. So we have to be very careful about what we say.

  454. And as Liam said, perfectly.

  455. You know, if we have nothing good to say,

  456. it's not to say anything at all about the dangers.

  457. I think with,

  458. social media or online

  459. communication is the anonymity that provides.

  460. It kind of provides this false sense of, what we disseminate

  461. and it doesn't have any consequences or doesn't carry forth,

  462. you know, a spiritual energy.

  463. And that's very dangerous because as you talked about,

  464. we can easily, these someone astray or,

  465. you know, disparage someone or,

  466. conversely, we can lift them up, we can encourage them.

  467. So again, social media is a medium.

  468. That's what it is.

  469. And we can use that for good or for bad and even for them for now,

  470. when it comes to fake news and how to navigate that.

  471. I think

  472. one thing that's important is to really,

  473. pray for the sermon about

  474. what are the agendas behind a message or post is because ultimately,

  475. whenever something is posted or creates it, there's always an intent behind it,

  476. and it's asking for at the summit to see it because,

  477. you know, we don't know everything.

  478. And each of us have, as much as we shouldn't

  479. be impartial, we do have our biases on our own.

  480. You know, leanings.

  481. So it's very important, also discernment to really decipher what exactly is

  482. the saying and is edifying, for one and two, is it true?

  483. And, there's so much noise, misinformation, disinformation out here.

  484. And it definitely is.

  485. Only to really grace and, you know, the spirit that in this day

  486. and age we can really pick apart which true and what isn't

  487. because of how much there is, out there right now.

  488. But yet but I've, I've seen this as a cyberbullying.

  489. I've seen instances of where, people trying to deceive others online.

  490. And in both cases, it really is about, I'd say, pray for discernment.

  491. And again, being intentional

  492. with, where we're going and who we're, engaging with.

  493. Yeah, I like that.

  494. We're engaging with, I think as Christians,

  495. I think it's important to be mindful about what you post

  496. and making sure that whatever you post or whatever you even like nowadays,

  497. see, just a casual like needs a lot of trouble.

  498. So what you post what you like or what you kind of endorse, as it were,

  499. needs to align with your beliefs, because we do get a lot of scrutiny.

  500. And if we say, oh yes, we're Christians, we're child of God and all that

  501. kind of stuff, and you go liking a post that doesn't quite align with that belief,

  502. then that harms people who are looking to people who say

  503. they are children of God for guidance because they'll think, well,

  504. if that person is into this and likes that, that's a bit confusing.

  505. I don't get it. And then you've lost someone there.

  506. Oh, awesome.

  507. I'm grateful I've never had a bad experience with social media.

  508. Personally.

  509. I think, on social media, I'm just more of a private person,

  510. so I usually interact with my friends or interact with content

  511. from like the source.

  512. Like any media I'm interested at the time,

  513. I would only like, really have very,

  514. a very passive interaction with social media.

  515. I would say, I'm not really want to look at comments, I'll get into that.

  516. But I mean, I feel like everyone knows someone in their youth, like, especially

  517. around the age of the younger members of this podcast who's gone

  518. through some sort of cyberbullying or seen or heard or something similar to that.

  519. It's really bad around that young age when they don't really have them, or

  520. maybe the the tools to properly understand,

  521. like just how much of themselves are putting online.

  522. Sometimes they don't really know how to distinguish between that

  523. social media presence and then their personal private lives.

  524. They kind of just mix the two, which I think is where the danger

  525. kind of lies sometimes social media use.

  526. But, like one advice

  527. I probably have for the young Christians on social media

  528. is to have that kind of that line,

  529. to be able to have a very clear distinction

  530. between their social media presence, whatever they put online,

  531. as long as it is not putting them in danger,

  532. things that they would like to post, to share,

  533. and in their personal life, I feel like you can't give yourself

  534. too much of yourself away

  535. to social media, regardless whether it's C is very positive.

  536. I feel like

  537. you just do have to protect ourselves when it comes to something

  538. like social media, because in the end, it's it's all terrible.

  539. Social media is never going to be benefiting the user.

  540. I was going to say it's fun, it's nice to use, but it's definitely important

  541. to distinguish the difference between

  542. like how you interact, the

  543. and then like

  544. maybe not who you talk to in person, but more like.

  545. Yeah, just being able to acknowledge

  546. that these people are behind the screen and they feel very emboldened by that.

  547. The things they say they'll probably never say to someone's face

  548. because they don't have the courage.

  549. And that's why

  550. comment sections online are terrible because they feel

  551. emboldened by the sense of animosity.

  552. And so the bullying police accounts, something quite

  553. interesting said about what you said, almost like a letter to younger self.

  554. You know, they've been talking about this.

  555. What I mean, what do you what do you feel about this?

  556. Move towards restricting under 16 from social media.

  557. So Australia I think they've I'm not sure if they've gone into law now.

  558. It feels like as I think they ban social media for under sixteens.

  559. Would you say that was harsh.

  560. You'd say that sexual assault to save a few.

  561. I don't know how they're going to what's the word

  562. log policy,

  563. how they're going to be restricted, like how they're actually going to physically

  564. make sure that's the thing that's being upheld, because I feel like

  565. any child would still bypass it in some way, shape or form.

  566. So I don't know how they're going to,

  567. actually criminalize it, if that makes sense.

  568. Well, I think if you look at the way we look at,

  569. making it illegal for some people under a certain age to buy alcohol,

  570. so it's illegal to buy alcohol in this country

  571. under the age of 16 or 18, I can't remember.

  572. I should,

  573. 18, 18.

  574. But when you're within the family, like, you can't really police

  575. something like that, especially with phones.

  576. WhatsApp's legal age is 16.

  577. I think you said 15 otherwise.

  578. Chris Wood 15.

  579. Yeah, but kids who have WhatsApp

  580. because their parents give them WhatsApp by the age of ten,

  581. it's like, I don't know how they would actually police it.

  582. So you would hold the adult responsible.

  583. So if a cyberbullying incident happened and the child

  584. ended up harming themselves or something related to that, not in the panel.

  585. We also wouldn't have to go that far if it could be proven

  586. that the child has been given access to social media,

  587. so there would have to be a reason for the police to get involved now.

  588. Yeah, it could be something

  589. as simple as another kid finds out that somebody under 16,

  590. their classmates has got a WhatsApp account, could be as simple as that.

  591. And then laws being broken, someone's going to be held responsible.

  592. Could either be the social media firm for not making the right checks,

  593. or could be the parent for not looking after their child properly

  594. and maybe giving them the account, because to enforce some things,

  595. they will ask you to have an ID to sign up for, maybe a WhatsApp account.

  596. You need a credit card, which you have to be a certain age maybe to get it.

  597. So there are ways of enforcing it,

  598. but doesn't mean they're going to get everybody but

  599. do you think anyway, just putting aside

  600. how difficult it will be to police it, do you think it's a good idea?

  601. I personally think no, because I don't think it's

  602. going to do much to stop kids getting social media,

  603. maybe from very young ages because they're old, like kids

  604. who are below 13 on social media, which is terrifying.

  605. But as soon as they get into secondary school, that age range,

  606. I don't think it's going to stop them from finding any source of social media.

  607. I'll just kind of clarify the alcohol one.

  608. It's illegal to give alcohol to children under five.

  609. However, it's not illegal for a child aged 5 to 16 to drink alcohol at home

  610. or on other private premises.

  611. So now we know.

  612. Yeah.

  613. What do you think about the idea of banning social media for under 16?

  614. Do you think is a bit harsh,

  615. or do you think it's actually going to save some lives?

  616. She didn't mention that.

  617. They didn't think them to be effective, which is probably true.

  618. The first two kids on the aged in conscious way

  619. that we should avoid drinking alcohol.

  620. That's to drink alcohol.

  621. But I think just the fact that the government has taken a step,

  622. I've made an attempt to try and limit this.

  623. I think it's a good step because kids, kids are quite a child

  624. is that they can container when they're young and whatever

  625. you put in them then forms them and shapes them to the other, they become.

  626. So I do believe from the age of 0 to 16,

  627. if they go back and try to limit the exposure to social media,

  628. although it may not be 100% effective, I do think

  629. at least a child who would benefit from this,

  630. I think is I think it's a good idea personally.

  631. Okay, okay, I'll put you.

  632. I'd say it's a good idea, but not not

  633. not standalone.

  634. So I do think it's as important,

  635. if not more so, is teaching children of the age to understand

  636. the dangers of social media and what they may encounter,

  637. because restriction in of itself,

  638. I feel well for children of age.

  639. Sometimes it does incite rebellion because children naturally

  640. go rebellious to order.

  641. So I would say what's just as important is ensuring they understand

  642. what the dangers are and informing them so that when they now have the reins

  643. to access that domain, they know how to do so responsibly.

  644. But you need of itself. I don't think that's a bad thing.

  645. I do think that there

  646. definitely should be an age limit when it comes to access to social media.

  647. And to be honest with you, with how much information is readily available.

  648. I think for young individuals, you know, their minds are like sponges.

  649. Sensory overload is real.

  650. I do think that that age limit isn't a bad idea, but

  651. it must be accompanied by some element of, guidance and understanding as to why,

  652. they need to be mindful and responsible how they,

  653. engage on social media.

  654. Okay. Yeah.

  655. I mean, oh, good points.

  656. And I can, I can see, I can see the points in all of these.

  657. And you're right, because if you think about some things

  658. these personally I think, I think it should

  659. be banned because I, I'm at that age

  660. where I think anything that's not good for kids should simply be banned.

  661. And I was rebellious, as one might say.

  662. I'm sure lots of teenagers, every teenager you've

  663. you've rebelled at some point in time about something because you used to it.

  664. You get to an age where you question why, what, why, why can't I do this?

  665. But over time, habits change.

  666. If we didn't have this, if we if you don't,

  667. if you don't ban it, or if you don't let people know that it's harmful to people

  668. and they should be exposed to this

  669. because they're too young to get know what they're getting into.

  670. Then,

  671. you can't really

  672. start with the education bill, because first of all, the first things

  673. I will tell you, what is not illegal is nothing wrong with it.

  674. So we could we could like on social media.

  675. So anything else that is age restricted, whether it's alcohol,

  676. whether it's underage sex, whether it's drugs, people will rebel,

  677. whether it's driving.

  678. I mean, would you put a 14 year old behind the wheel of a car?

  679. So, I mean, there's even campaigns

  680. as well about that to kind of restrict people of a certain age

  681. for having for carrying passengers or for driving at night

  682. because the number of young people that have died in road accidents.

  683. So I can see where you're coming from, bring things.

  684. That doesn't mean anything is going to be hard to enforce.

  685. I mean, it's been illegal for kids to buy

  686. cigarets and, alcohol for years, but it doesn't stop you from walking up

  687. to the end of license

  688. and seeing kids hanging outside asking if you could buy them alcohol or cigarets

  689. that will always be there, but saving some lives.

  690. I guess this generation coming through seems

  691. to be more concerned about their health

  692. and well-being than previous generations.

  693. So you're seeing less alcohol consumption.

  694. You're seeing more people going for the non alcoholic stuff.

  695. Maybe there are other devices that are picked up by social media.

  696. Well, eventually, over time, I think we'll get to a stage where,

  697. people will understand the dangers of social media and hopefully

  698. they'll be more mature before they get into it.

  699. So but yeah, good conversation.

  700. So I guess for me, I would say maybe the challenge here is you've got channels,

  701. you've got, you got you got channels to be able to spread the word,

  702. to stay true to your values, to share God's love.

  703. And as part of this group,

  704. my call to action for you

  705. would be, how can you stop using the channels we have already?

  706. Because we've got some social media accounts

  707. which say nothing at the moment, because we haven't got anyone to

  708. generate the content that needs to be out there.

  709. Ideally, and certainly the podcast is a good one because this is good content.

  710. Well, we need to probably get better at creating more content

  711. and sharing more content out there to kind of be our own contribution

  712. to silence the fake news, the, toxic stuff that we find out there.

  713. So that's all I'm going to leave you with today.

  714. But, thank you for we we've gone for ten minutes.

  715. This has to be edited down to 30.

  716. So thank you for your contributions today.

  717. Okay.

  718. Thank you. Bye. Good luck.