RELEVANT CHILDREN'S MINISTRY

How involved are kids in social media?  While some social media platforms have age requirements to join, many kids are participating. 

For kids growing up in a world of digital buzz, being part of social media is as natural as breathing for them.  They carry their cell phones and other devices around like oxygen tanks which they are always attached to.

Let's take a look at how kids are interacting with social media.

YouTube is the number-one brand among kids ages 6 to 12.  Through this platform, kids not only watch videos, but also plug into other kids' worlds and stay up with current trends.  YouTube has caused many kids to see their life as a stage, as they produce their own videos and promote their own "personal brand."

In the last year, the percentage of 6 to 12-year-olds posting videos online has increased from 15% to 35%. 

Musically is used by 58% of all kids with 67% of pre-teens using it.  It's a free social media music app that allows kids to watch and create user generated lip sync videos. 

Snapchat is used by 55% of all kids with 54% of pre-teens using it.  It's a very popular social network with a messaging platform.  Kids can "chat" with their friends by sending them photos and short videos of up to 10 seconds.  It's like texting with pictures and videos.

Unlike other social media networks, Snapchat content is not keep online, but disappears a few seconds after it's been opened.  There is also the option to create a news feed where kids can post photos and videos that are posted for 24 hours before disappearing.

Facebook is the grandfather of social media.  It began in 2004 and is used by 48% of kids with 52% of pre-teens using it.  Facebook makes it easy for kids to connect and share text, pictures, video and more with family and friends. 

Instagram is used by 47% of kids with 50% of pre-teens using it.  It's a photo sharing app that allows users to assign filters to pictures and share them with followers.  Instagram can also be integrated other social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and more..

Pinterest is used by 43% of kids with 47% of pre-teens using it.  It allows kids to use visual assets like photos or infographs as a kind of social currency.  Kids can garner likes and "repins" for their posts. 

KiK is used by 32% of kids with 26% of pre-teens using it.  It's a smartphone application used for instant messaged.  Kids can message individual friends or groups of kids.

Twitter is used by 29% of kids with 28% of pre-teens using it.  It's an online news and social networking site where people communicate in short messages called tweets.  You can type up to 280 characters.

So, there's the latest findings.  Trust it will be of help as you minister.

Gen Z kids are social media immersed.  In most cases, social media membership is supposed to require users to be at least 13-years-old.  But social media is reaching younger and younger users.

A recent study by a company called Smarty Pants reveals that nearly half of 6 to 12-year-olds currently use a social media app or website.  And more than 1/3 of them log in and connect with other people online at least once a day.

Here are the most recent findings of how kids are involved in social media.

Instagram

• total using among ages 6 to 12 is 25%
• total using among ages 6 to 8 is 14%
• total using among ages 9 to 12 is 32%

Musical.ly 

• total using among ages 6 to 12 is 26%
• total using among ages 6 to 8 is 14%
• total using among ages 9 to 12 is 35%

Facebook

• total using among ages 6 to 12 is 31%
• total using among ages 6 to 8 is 24%
• total using among ages 9 to 12 is 37%

Snapchat

• total using among ages 6 to 12 is 34%
• total using among ages 6 to 8 is 29%
• total using among ages 9 to 12 is 38%

And the numbers of kids using social media continues to grow.  Instagram is up 5% over last year among kids.  Facebook and Musical.ly grew by 12% among kids and Snapchat grew 14%.  There is no denying the growing influence social media has in the lives of kids. 

In some aspects, this is a positive thing.  

Kids can quickly connect to vast amounts of news, information and friendships that previous generations could not access as children. 

It provides kids an opportunity to be involved in spreading hope and encouragement during times of crisis like the recent hurricanes and the church shooting in Texas. 

It allows kids to participate in raising money for worthy causes.  An example of this was the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, where kids posted videos of themselves getting doused in water to raise awareness.

It provides kids with opportunities to share their faith with others.  They can help spread the Gospel around the world through social media.

It provides kids with opportunities to grow in their faith through online discipleship courses and programs.

But on the other hand, the increased involvement in social media by children raises some red flags that must be addressed.  

How will we help kids cope with and work through the deluge of human suffering, terrorists attacks, talks of nuclear war, heated political debates and other scary news coming at them through social media?

How will we shield and protect children who are vulnerable to online predators who lurk in social media?

How will we help children deal with bullying that will come their way through social media?

How will we protect children from pornography that is spread through social media?

How will we help children discern what is truth and what is not when they are faced with so many viewpoints and taught that truth is relative?

These are questions that parents and church leaders must find answers to as social media continues to become a part of childhood for today's kids.