There are some alarming statistics in this brief 4 minute TED.com talk. It isn’t about the weakness of the economy or the decline in belief in a literal heaven and hell among youth, but rather the decline of the youth themselves. At least the male half that is. Check it out:
So what’s our move? How does this affect the way we do youth ministry in technologically advanced societies?
All technology, like medicine, has potential side effects. Within youth ministry, like most other fields, the benefits of new technology are much easier to label. Mostly because they are immediate, while the side effects take time to surface. Sex, or rather porn, was talked about quite a bit for such a short video, and while the statistics were alarming, the church is responding. How is the church going to respond to the other major side effects – decrease in social skills and attention span, today’s youth in developed countries are facing though? Honestly, I’m not sure. I would suggest talking about it with your youth though. They know no world other than the one deeply connected to social media and texting while at the dinner table. I’d also challenge you to spend more time with youth in small groups engaged in deep conversation. (Especially the shy/socially awkward/weird kids God has brought your way). Statistically speaking, it seems they aren’t getting it from anywhere else. But really, this post is more about asking questions rather than offering solutions.
Is a major shift in how we are doing youth group needed?
Also, if you haven’t seen the presenter’s interview about the Lucifer effect and Sunday school with Steven Colbert you should probably Google it.
About Kristy
I second that recommendation to check out Zimbardo’s interview with Colbert. Hilarious.