#ChSocM Chat Transcript: Social Media During Challenging Times and TimeLine Interactions

Challenging times and current events 

make for challenging conversations. 

We chatted about getting out of the echo chamber 

and becoming able to read/hear/see 

diverse opinions strongly expressed

This week's chat moderated by Katy Dunigan (@KDunigan)

Topics:
T1: How has social media made a difference in the U.S. conversation this last week?
T1A: Provide an example of something you saw/read/heard that ministered to you during this past week.
T2 Part 1: SM can be an echo chamber (i.e. listening to & talking w/people like you.)
T2 Part 2: How do you find differing voices to learn from & listen to?
T2A: What/who is your “go to” source for alternative viewpoints?
T3: How do you manage diverse, disagreeing voices in your TL? Ignore? Unfollow? Read? Respond?
T3A Sometimes conversation is heated. What’s the difference between passionate disagreement & trolling?
T3B When have you observed online disagreements produce changed conversation & debate?
Inspiration/last thought: What can you do this coming week to spur & encourage productive conversation & debate?

Read the transcript on Storify

#ChSocM Chat Transcript: Using social media to inform, organize and mobilize faith communities

We chatted about using social media to 

inform/organize/mobilize 

faith communities around real-time events. 

This week's chat moderated by Jason Chesnut (@crazypastor)

Topics:
T1: What are some strengths/weaknesses when it comes to social media in relation to things happening in real-time?
T2: When meaningful stuff happens outside church buildings, what are some do’s/don’t’s/best practices when it comes to #ChSocM?
T3: Storytime! - what biblical stories relate to this work of leaving the building & sharing? (Out-of-the-box thinking welcomed.)
T4: So. What are some of the best things YOU have seen/done to connect faith communities to local communities through #ChSocM?
T5: If you had one tweet to tell people *why* Twitter is a place you do ministry, what would it be?

Read the transcript on Storify.

Social Media and Social Justice: QOTD (Quote of the Day)

No shortage of quotable material from the Rev. Carol Howard (@CarolHoward), author of Tribal Church and Reframing Hope, and columnist for The Christian Century. Her latest essay, "Social Media and Social Change," challenges church social media enthusiasts to consider one downside of these swift, immediate media: faddism. Click here for the entire post. Here's what grabbed my full attention:


Social media can reduce activism to a fad-- something that we take part in because a particular Twitter hashtag is trending, a video has become viral, or a Facebook Cause has become popular. It can ignore the hard work that has been taking place over decades and discount a long-term strategy that a community might have. . . .  As Christians who strive for social justice, we know that we need the fast and furious exposure that social media can bring. But we also need the long-term, careful work that takes decades.

─  Carol Howard Merritt

Facebook, Organ Donation, and Faithful Action

 

 If you're a fan of social media, you already know that last week, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg announced that organ donor status would be included as an option under "Life Event" in the "Health and Wellness" category. Because clicking on "organ donor" is not the same thing as actually registering as one, FB added this key information:

All major religions view organ donation -- the gift of life -- as the ultimate charitable contribution. This I discovered while doing research for my book, Deliberate Acts of Kindness: Service as a Spiritual Practice.  FB is providing a great opportunity for people of faith to act in faith.*

Now type "Facebook and organ donors" into the Google search bar and take a look at articles about the exponential boost in organ donation registration since the FB announcement. Amazing, right? So, how might churches use social media to boost participation in blood drives and other humanitarian community service activities?

By the way, FB allows space for a bit of story. Here's (part of) mine:

*I also learned that signing a donor card or checking the box on your driver's license isn't enough. Next of kin still has to provide written consent, so make sure everyone knows your intention.