Gary's Newsletter 358: Hyperconnected Communities

Jess Rice is a worship leader, counselor, captivating story teller, and well informed observer of the Facebook phenomenon. His new book, The Church of Facebook: How the Hyperconnected are Redefining Community pictures a church on the cover but surprisingly it says almost nothing about the church. Despite the misleading title, however, Rice shows perceptively how online social networks are redefining and changing the ways we look at community.

Connection is at the core of what makes us human - "connection with one another, with our own hearts and minds, and with a loving God." The best connection is "the kind that creates a sense of belonging within us, a sense that we are 'safe, cared for, protected, and loved'"
Control over our connections and environments helps us feel safe and valued, especially if we can control how others perceive us. Facebook provides this control and connection.
Hyperconnection is the experience of having too many connections, too many choices, too much incoming information. Facebook communication, "short, rapid-fire bursts of information," shapes our relationships and keeps us hyperconnected -- tethered to our iPhones or Blackberrys. With attention focused on "what's new" there is little time for reflection or for developing a healthy sense of self.
Friendships on line differ from real world friendships, even though the two look similar. Real world friends share a sense of history, commitment, permanence, connection through proximity and respect for boundaries. There is time for giving, for "submitting and taking responsibility for one another." But the more "friends" we have, the more superficial the relationships and the less depth of our communities. Facebook friendships are not very demanding. "We don't have to work hard at them, or offer much of ourselves in return." There is less room for the intentionality, humility, and authenticity of real life friendships.
As social networks grow, we need to adapt to how we view and experience community.
How does this relate to counseling, caring, coaching or the church? This book doesn't say. I hope this insightful author has a follow up book in the works.