Media Matters: Part 8
I’ve committed my time and interest in this year of writing for Tirzah to communicating the importance of media and the issues around it. I hope you’ve enjoyed hearing about some of the wonderful experiences I’ve had around the media AND heard the challenges that can also appear (check out the rest of the articles on media matters here). Today, I wanted to talk about setting boundaries with the media.
In my full-time job, I work with foster parents who are raising kids of all ages. The conversation recently has shifted to a training a co-worker and I are creating on technology and human trafficking. This came into existence after we heard about backdoor entrances to pornography through the Bible App on a phone, kids killing themselves over sending inappropriate pics of themselves & getting blackmailed, as well as a newly labeled terrorist group that targets children for trafficking through Roblox. Thankfully, I’ve found organizations like Safe Passages that are working very hard in the online front to combat these issues with teenagers.
As adults, it’s not our job to shy away from these things or be ignorant to what children and the next generation face. Here are practical tips we can apply to our lives and, if you happen to be a parent, to children as well:
What is your purpose for social media?
The Bible says “whatsoever things are good, lovely, true, and of good report…”
Do you spend hours scrolling through apps and social media?
Is this growing or harming your family & testimony?
What apps can promote good, helpful things?
Make a list of apps that you can utilize to help you grow as a person.
Research online to ensure these apps are safe.
What apps can you remove that are draining your time?
Maybe you need to unfollow some people/sites?
WHY am I making this post?
Not me, but you. Why are you making that reel, blog post, or social media post?
Is it edifying, helpful, have a tone of hopefulness, and of good report?
Will God be glorified?
Is this information that everyone needs to know?
Does everyone really need to hear your comment on their life on social media?
Should I save all of my information online?
Media can be a good thing, but once again some things should be private.
Process what is the best way to save information.
Do NOT share your saved information with everyone.
Limit who has access to your phone or other devices.
Phone and computer restrictions.
If you have kids, check out this site for best parental controls: https://www.safepassageusa.org/whoweare
If you are an adult, consider this to block inappropriate content for all ages on devices: https://www.brightcanary.io/how-to-block-a-website/
Setting up guards in online video games.
Here’s a link for setting up controls on video games: https://www.esrb.org/tools-for-parents/parental-controls/
Ensure every device has limits on who you are exposed to online. It doesn’t matter how old you are, use wisdom on who you communicate with.
Should I use AI?
Read this article: https://eng.vt.edu/magazine/stories/fall-2023/ai.html
Determine for yourself IF AI is worth using.
I could spend all day on the types of boundaries we should set up around media. If you know me, you know I have a large in-person community in several states - as well as information on myself from multiple companies I work with. Despite my embracing media and attempting to bring Christ’s light into it, I do have lots of restrictions in place as well. As the Bible says,
“Be a shrewd as a snake and innocent as doves…”
-Matthew 10:16