Just last week Pam Moore and I hosted our first Twitter Chat called the Social Media Get Real Chat, using the Hashtag #GetRealChat.
The chat focuses on the power of relationships & the need for authenticity in today's Social Media driven world. We had a tremendous turnout and we invite everyone to join us this Tuesday AND every Tuesday at 9EST.
Sounds like we may have to extend and invitation to His Holiness to our chats...
The following are excerpts from the article "The Pope slams fake social media profiles and linkbait" on thenextweb.com:
"Entering cyberspace can be a sign of an authentic search for personal encounters with others, provided that attention is paid to avoiding dangers such as enclosing oneself in a sort of parallel existence, or excessive exposure to the virtual world.
In the search for sharing, for 'friends", there is the challenge to be authentic and faithful, and not give in to the illusion of constructing an artificial public profile for oneself."
We must be aware that the truth which we long to share, does not derive its worth from its 'popularity' or from the amount of attention it receives... The proclamation of the Gospel requires a communication which is at once respectful and sensitive."
Now I'm sure the pontiff had some help in scribing his annual World Communications Day message in which the above appeared but... it's still pretty telling that the leader of over 1 billion Christians worldwide would include a reference to Social Media.
There are lessons to be learned for sure, regardless of your particular religion... because ALL of us practice the religion of Social Media.
- Don't try to be something you are not.
- Be faithful to who you are and not what you think others think you should be.
- Don't give in to the hype that sheer numbers of followers, page views, hits, etc equates to popularity and influence.
- Be respectful of others and sensitive to their particular issues, needs, etc
- And of course... be real. Keep it real. At all times.
But, in spite of the dire warnings, the pope still appears to be a fan of Social Media.
"I would like then to invite Christians, confidently and with an informed and responsible creativity, to join the network of relationships which the digital era has made possible."
Now someone just has to tell Rev. Cedric A. Miller, senior pastor at Living Word Christian Fellowship Church in New Jersey who last year said...
"It's to the point now that... anyone in our church in a leadership position and who is married and is on Facebook has to resign their church position if they do not give up Facebook."