Internet Dangers - Part 2 of 3

Internet Dangers Awareness

by Tim Demoret

The Social Networking Trend: What happens when people get together in an unsupervised environment, believe they have a certain level of anonymity, and are encouraged to share all that is in their hearts? Naturally, they will once again prove that “the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked...” (Jeremiah 17:9) This can be easily illustrated on the currently most popular website for teens and twenty-somethings: myspace.com. With literally millions of people a day browsing and “commenting” on the pages of myspace.com, people are overwhelmingly displaying their infatuation with sin.

There are three “big” issues that surface as a result of this social networking trend. Two are identified by parents, school, and even the major news media. The third is ignored by everyone except the Bible. First, it is a concern of many parents and school officials that sites such as myspace.com allow kids to be “too explicit” (Adults question MySpace's safety, USATODAY.com). This is seen in the vast amounts of pornography and foul language as well as the predominance of Satan-driven music culture. Second, there is a great deal of concern about the amount of personal information many of the young people put online. This information, including personal pictures, addresses, phone numbers, schedules, etc., is becoming an ever increasing target for sexual predators. Third, and the point that you won't hear from secular sources, is the division that the a separate “Youth Culture” causes in our families, churches, and country. 2 Timothy 2:22 warns about “youthful lusts.” The time of youth is a time of learning the principles of right and wrong. The longer we allow young people the “right” to decide for for themselves what is right or wrong without the guidance of authoritative “Truth”, the more sinful the “Youth Culture” will become. The more the youth becomes trapped in sin, the more they will resist authority and live in rebellion. Social Networking has been upheld as a way for kids to interact and develop who they are by comparing themselves to their peers (Experts discuss MySpace issues, Sarah H. Wright, Massachusetts Institute of Technology-web.mit.edu). Biblically, we are to compare ourselves to God, not each other (2 Corinthians 10:12-13).