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Networked Blogs
Mar
25
My work is going to be on the radio
Filed Under Vocalo, WBEW | 3 Comments
Radio alert!
One of my commentaries phoned into Vocalo.org’s hotline will be featured on the 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. line up tomorrow morning. I didn’t have the advantage of writing something up before saying my commentary as I drove north on I-65 earlier today, but I’m sure it will sound okay after it gets the full Ira Glass “This American Life” production treatment from the staff over at WBEW (89.5 FM).
Even if it airs “as is,” I’m sure it sounds okay. (I always hate hearing myself on tape, so I’m always my worst critic).
If you’re from Northwest Indiana (or anywhere with access to a phone) and want to potentially get on the radio, give Vocalo.org a call at 888.635.1112. We need to get more Northwest Indiana folks on the air telling their stories, sharing their band’s music, and just getting the word out to the world about what’s happening in the Region.
Mar
21
Did Facebook kill the church?
Filed Under social networking | 5 Comments
Dr. Richard Beck examines the relationship between the rise of social networking and declining church attendance among Millennials (Gen Y) in “How Facebook Killed the Church.”
So what happened? Why didn’t Gen X leave the church while the Millennials are leaving in droves?
The difference between Generations X and Y isn’t in their views of the church. It’s about those cellphones. It’s about relationships and connectivity. Most Gen X’ers didn’t have cell phones, text messaging or Facebook. These things were creeping in during their college years but the explosive onset of mobile devices and social computing had yet to truly take off.
So why has mobile social computing affected church attendance? Well, if church has always been kind of lame and irritating why did people go in the first place? Easy, social relationships. Church has always been about social affiliation. … Even if you hated church you could feel lonely without it. Particularly with the loss of “third places” in America.
But Millennials are in a different social situation. They don’t need physical locations for social affiliation. … You don’t need to go to church to stay connected or in touch. You have an iPhone.
It’s an interesting thesis on the declining Gen Y attendance in the church.
Could all of those cell phones and social networking opportunities be the reason why young people aren’t going to traditional church services?
Could there be a rise in Facebook or Twitter churches in the future, i.e. decentralized, social in nature, and asynchronous?
Should the church change its format to appeal to Generation Y, i.e. keep a traditional service, but also keep a frequently updated Facebook and Twitter page?
Or, could it be something else, and if so, what do you think is the reason why Gen Y isn’t going to church as much as the Gen X and Baby Boomer generations are?
