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Tuesday, September 06, 2011

Churches ignoring online playgrounds


Everywhere computer professional Brian Heil looked at SoulFest 2011 he saw packs of young people trying to stay on schedule as they rushed from one rock concert, workshop or prayer meeting to another.

But first, there was one more text to send, one more Twitter update to tweet, one more Facebook status to update, one more snapshot to share, one more YouTube video to upload, just one more connection to make in the digital world that now shapes real life.

This year’s festival (Aug. 3-6) drew nearly 13,000 Protestants and Catholics from throughout New England, which means there were about that many cellphones, smartphones, tablets and other digital devices on hand. The screens glowed like fireflies in the crowds that gathered for the rock concerts each night on the lower slopes of the Gunstock Mountain Resort.

“Everyone’s connected everywhere. It’s continuous. This is how our young people experience life today,” said Heil, during his “Protecting the Playground” workshop for parents and youth leaders at SoulFest. “They don’t even look at the keys on their phones anymore when texting. ...

“Lots of kids are more comfortable texting than they are talking and having real relationships. They have trouble with face-to-face intimacy because they’re so used to living their lives online and in text messages. Texting feels safer.”

But the harsh reality is that the digital world is not safer, stressed the 52-year-old Heil, who has a quarter of a century of experience as digital networker and designer. To read more, click here.

Related article: Smartphones Responsible for Porn Consumption Increase?

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