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Youth Identity in Technology
by Sean Marston, Champion for Youth and Young Adults
19 June 2009 Consider this quote I recently came across in a magazine in New Zealand: Recently, practitioners and researchers have recognised spirituality as an important aspect in youth development. But rather than being purely seen as a connection to religion, these people have redefined spirituality as a sense of purpose in life and a sense of connection to one's world. Given this definition we could argue that currently, especially for young people, Information Communication Technology (ICT) use is deeply spiritual as it enables young people to establish a purpose to their lives and a sense of connection both to their friends and the larger world. I found the idea of technology impacting a young person's sense of purpose and spirituality quite challenging, but a big part of me could see how this is also a reality. In the wider world, technology is changing people's lives and the way they communicate, but these impacts are more extreme in the youth culture. For many people it may seem that technology is changing practical aspects of young people's lives, but I think it is more than this. Besides the fact that technology and media is giving young people more knowledge, freedom, and access to new ideas, I believe it is also impacting their understanding of relationships, sense of community, and connectedness ... and also maybe their view of self worth and spiritual beliefs. Anyone working with young people must take seriously the role that ICT is having on them. Whether it is mobile phones, internet, social network sites, blogging, or emails, young people's lives are starting to be transformed by these new forms of communicating and of being. If I had to sum up one way technology like ICT is changing young people, I would have to say it is in what is now giving young people a sense of belonging and what is community. Religious beliefs and spirituality are often brought together around the idea of community and shared experience. For many young people they are getting their 'shared experience' in the use and connection to technology. To me, this means there are many gaps and pitfalls that technology can lead young people into, but I also see many possibilities of where ICT can bring young people together and expose them to ideas and opportunities. How much the church chooses to understand and get involved in this 'other' world of younger generations may start to impact how much we can truly influence them with the Christian faith and involvement in the community of church. Comment on this post: Email sean.marston@sim.org 
 
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Youth and Young Adults
Champion: Sean Marston Sean Marston’s 22 years in youth ministry (part of that time as Short-Term Mission Coordinator for SIM New Zealand) have informed his passion for reaching those growing up in a “post-mission and post-church environment.” View all blog entries filed under Youth and Young Adults |
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