Do's and Don'ts Dot Com
Dr. John K. Mathew
I don't consider myself to be a right person to write something about the internet and the unending world of technology, because I do not know much about it.
Whether we know it or not, the technology revolution is here to stay. So we can't hide from it or pretend that it is not changing our lives.
In the words of Randi Zuckerberg CEO and founder of Zuckerberg Media, "Technology and Social media have changed, enhanced and complicated every facet of our lives. From how we interact with our friends to how we elect presidents; from how we manage our careers to how we support important causes; from how we find love to how we raise our children."
Facebook started as a place for trivial and everyday interactions, a place for college kids to poke one another and post photos, but over the last few years we have seen it revolutionize our lives.
Randi continues, social media gives us all a voice and at certain incredible moments, we see hundreds, thousands or millions of people bringing their voices together to form a chorus. As people take a stand and show their support for a cause online, their friends join in, followed by friends of their friends and so on.
Together all those people become a force for change in lives and communities all over the world, for so many different causes, in so many different ways.
'Global Disaster Relief' for the Caribbean nation of Haiti is an example. A massive earthquake struck Haiti on the 12th January 2010. Thousands of homes and buildings collapsed, hundreds of thousands of people lost their lives and millions of people became homeless. Within less than twenty four hours the post appeared on Facebook, people around the globe joined together to mobilize millions of dollars to help the victims. A study by the Pew Research Center in February 2012 showed that, on average, every post we make on Facebook can potentially reach an audience of over 150,000 people through friends of friends. When you post something online, your voice can echo through the internet and spark new conversations. (Dot Complicated).
This doesn't mean that technology does not do any harm at all.Yes it does.The question here is, how do we deal with it.The scripture says,"See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse." We can choose.Therefore, it is high time for us to set a standard and may I suggest a few. They are:
Do not use a cell phone or any other electronic device in a way that will disturb the sanctity of a spiritual gathering.
Do not use the internet for slandering.
Do not use it to satisfy the carnal desires.
Do not let the internet enslave us and our time.
Please do know about all the pitfalls of cyber space.
Please do monitor how our children use the internet and teach them about the decorum to be maintained in the cyber space.
Please remember, 'Online' or 'Off' human dignity is important.
May God Almighty help all of us distinguish right from wrong.
