the Social Sidekick: The NEED for a “like”
True of False? Facebook is out. Instagram is in. This was actually a trick question. Although Facebook is declining in usage (especially with younger people), it is still very popular, the most popular social media platform out there.
However, Instagram is a hot social media platform right now, especially with teens. More and more students are flocking to Instagram and not Facebook when they sign up for social media (which is kind of ironic since Facebook owns Instagram). Nowadays, moms love Facebook, teens loves Instagram. So, if you want to communicate with teens today, I hope you are on Instagram.
I am still getting used to Instagram myself. I know how to use Facebook, Twitter and even Google + a good deal, but Instagram seemed foreign to me. But, alas, I saw the trend of students using Instagram so much more than Facebook or Twitter, so I’ve been using it a good amount lately (no personal account, though. I only have a student ministry account).
The other day a student asked me if I could “like” their picture on Instagram. Now, this wasn’t the 1st time they asked me to do this. But what caused me to pause a little was when they said, “It’s gone two minutes with ONE LIKE !!! uh the struggle”.
That was an exact text I received from this person. I think they were exaggerating a little, but to them two minutes, 1 like = disaster and embarrassment! I know it sounds silly but this is the world we live in now. Teens are all over Instagram and many students from my youth program ask me regularly to like their pictures.
Why is that?
Because they want to be liked. They want to be accepted. And this is one way in which they feel liked and accepted. It may be different from getting picked last in kickball, but if they don’t get those likes, it has some of the same effects on students. That simple “like” is an affirmation to them that they are accepted and that people value what they are sharing.
After all, with Instagram, students are sharing their lives. They are giving everyone a little piece of them and they are being vulnerable to some extent. It is a risk in some ways so if they aren’t getting that affirmation with a “like” there is a little bit of rejection that goes along with it.
So what should we do?
An obvious step is to get on Instagram and like as many of your students photos as possible (as long as they are acceptable that is). Secondly, spend time with them. If you are a parent reading this, take your child out and continue to get to know this ever-changing person you helped to create. Help to understand what they are going through so that you can help guide them through all of life, hopefully with God as their guide. If you are a youth minister, spend some more time with this person and help them discover who God intended them to be.
We need to continue to speak TRUTH into their lives that no matter how many likes they get, they are still loved by God. After all, by seeking that fulfillment from a “like” is still filling a void in their life that they don’t know how to fill. Sure, it may not be drinking or hook ups or excelling in sports or academics, but it is still seeking to fill that emptiness that they are feeling.
By speaking the Truth of Christ in their lives we can help them experience that truth about who they are (loved and cared for by the creator of the world). We can help them process what is going on and help them see that no matter how many “likes” they have, they are children of God who has a great plan for their lives.
Easier said than done, I know. But it’s a start.
What about you all? You’ve had experiences with students and social media. What are your thoughts and/or experiences? Post your comments below so we can all learn and benefit from it.
