Social Media Encouragment

June 15, 2015 | Calvin Bryant

And now that last week we posted about a way to “monitor” things students are doing within social media and their phones, this week is about the complete opposite. Despite many of the negative aspects to social media, there are so many positive things for which it can be used. We have seen this within our own ZPC youth family with students connecting with other students to talk them through a tough time, to encourage each other in scripture, and to reach out when others don’t feel included. Continue to celebrate these WINS with our students!

Recent research has shown that things like that can happen when students are encouraged to use social media in a positive way. Let’s be honest, we don’t like it when our friends get hurt, and neither do students. So when this happens, many times a student’s close friends can, and will, come to the rescue. According the article below, social media can strengthen friendships, create new friendships, provide a sense of belonging and support, and help kids express themselves. We have also experienced this at ZPC as we have been able to connect with students with which we typically wouldn’t connect, allow students to contact us in ways that are more informal, and keep up on things that are of highest importance to specific students. Click the articles below that demonstrate the positive aspect of social media among students.

Discussion questions with MS students – How have you used your words in person (or social media) to encourage someone lately? If someone anonymously posted about you, would it be positive or negative? How have you seen someone use social media for good? Can you name a person that is constantly posting encouraging or positive things? Why do you think they do that?