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[SPEAKER_03]: So welcome to Truth Table.

[SPEAKER_03]: And we are here with teens at the table y'all.

[SPEAKER_03]: And I'm excited for this opportunity to talk about social media today already.

[SPEAKER_04]: Yes, man.

[SPEAKER_03]: So before we get into this conversation, I want to introduce my highly esteemed panelists to you today.

[SPEAKER_03]: So they're going to all introduce themselves to you.

[SPEAKER_03]: their age and I've got another question for them, which is going to be about, are they on social media and what platforms have they used?

[SPEAKER_03]: But let's start with just an introduction of your name and your age.

[SPEAKER_04]: I'm Trinity and I'm fifteen years old.

[SPEAKER_03]: Awesome.

[SPEAKER_01]: I'm John and I'm fifteen years old.

[SPEAKER_04]: I'm Rebecca and I'm thirteen years old.

[SPEAKER_03]: Awesome.

[SPEAKER_03]: Holden it down for the thirteen year olds.

[SPEAKER_03]: I'm happy to have you back and happy to have both John and Trinity with us as well today.

[SPEAKER_03]: social media.

[SPEAKER_03]: Now, let me tell you how far I go back.

[SPEAKER_03]: It's social media, okay.

[SPEAKER_03]: I had a Myspace page, which I know is dead and gone and buried in the grave.

[SPEAKER_03]: And I remember AOL, and I remember all over well over twenty-five years ago, getting my first email account over twenty-five years ago.

[SPEAKER_03]: And so I still have it.

[SPEAKER_03]: I can't use it.

[SPEAKER_03]: I mean, it's so, it's so filled with stuff, but I still have that memory.

[SPEAKER_03]: So I think we represent, I'm a young, gen X, they're old, super, old millennials, what is where I would live.

[SPEAKER_03]: And we represent the people who remember when we were using typewriters.

[SPEAKER_03]: And then remember when we got the internet dialogue.

[SPEAKER_03]: So we are like those people, right?

[SPEAKER_03]: And some of those stuff you're like, what is she talking about, right?

[SPEAKER_03]: So my question for you is, what are you on social media?

[SPEAKER_03]: And if you are, what platforms have you used?

[SPEAKER_04]: I do have such a media I do.

[SPEAKER_04]: I use Instagram, TikTok, and sometimes Snapchat.

[SPEAKER_04]: I only use Snapchat for the filters.

[SPEAKER_04]: Okay.

[SPEAKER_03]: Okay.

[SPEAKER_03]: Gotcha.

[SPEAKER_03]: For the photos.

[SPEAKER_03]: For the filters.

[SPEAKER_03]: Yes.

[SPEAKER_03]: How about you, John?

[SPEAKER_01]: I actually don't have social media.

[SPEAKER_01]: The closest thing I use is YouTube, just for videos and music, but nothing else.

[SPEAKER_03]: Okay, awesome.

[SPEAKER_05]: I'm only on Instagram.

[SPEAKER_05]: That's all I have and then I sometimes look at YouTube, sometimes look at YouTube.

[SPEAKER_03]: Okay, excellent.

[SPEAKER_03]: Okay, good stuff.

[SPEAKER_03]: And so what made you decide to [SPEAKER_03]: to get on social media.

[SPEAKER_03]: And in your case, John, what made you decide not to be on social media.

[SPEAKER_03]: But Trinity, why would I start with you?

[SPEAKER_04]: Um, usually because when I was younger, I was looking at everybody and they were like, they all had these cool episodes.

[SPEAKER_04]: I was like, hey, I don't want that too.

[SPEAKER_04]: So I was like, yeah, let me do it.

[SPEAKER_04]: Let me see it in your, your yard.

[SPEAKER_03]: Yeah, yeah.

[SPEAKER_03]: So they, so like the environment, your friends, your peers, their own social media.

[SPEAKER_03]: And so you're like, okay, they've got, they've got the things that they can do.

[SPEAKER_03]: And I want to be a part of that as well.

[SPEAKER_03]: I think I think a lot of people would agree with you on that.

[SPEAKER_03]: John, how about you?

[SPEAKER_03]: You just say something that might shock the people, okay?

[SPEAKER_03]: That you are not on social media.

[SPEAKER_03]: So tell us why you swim in the, swim in the against the stream.

[SPEAKER_01]: So when I was a lot of good at phone, I wasn't allowed to get social media until like late middle school, like eighth grade.

[SPEAKER_01]: But by then, I had already seen like so many different like articles and like news people like it's like so bad.

[SPEAKER_01]: Like I'm seeing it be used for good, but it can be used for bad too.

[SPEAKER_01]: So I just like I'm just gonna abstain from it.

[SPEAKER_01]: Like see if I can live without it and I have ever since.

[SPEAKER_01]: Gotcha.

[SPEAKER_03]: Gotcha.

[SPEAKER_03]: So you, so you kind of missed the window when maybe everyone was kind of onboarding and then you read some articles.

[SPEAKER_03]: You were informed by the science.

[SPEAKER_03]: Okay.

[SPEAKER_03]: And you were like, no, I'm good.

[SPEAKER_03]: And you want to see kind of how long you can kind of not connect with.

[SPEAKER_02]: So yeah.

[SPEAKER_03]: Interesting.

[SPEAKER_03]: Oh, excellent.

[SPEAKER_03]: So thanks for sharing.

[SPEAKER_03]: How about you Rebecca?

[SPEAKER_03]: Why are you on Instagram?

[SPEAKER_05]: I just recently got it.

[SPEAKER_05]: I'm just on it because I just wanted to get it.

[SPEAKER_05]: Really no reasoning behind it.

[SPEAKER_05]: Okay.

[SPEAKER_05]: I'm not a lot of TikTok so then I got Instagram.

[SPEAKER_03]: Okay, got you.

[SPEAKER_03]: And do you know why you're not allowed to have TikTok?

[SPEAKER_03]: Like what would be the difference between why maybe a yes to Instagram and a no to TikTok?

[SPEAKER_05]: Maybe with all the stuff that's been going on with all the bands and stuff that's been going on with TikTok.

[SPEAKER_05]: So that's probably part of the reason why I can't have it.

[SPEAKER_03]: Sure, yeah, I don't, I've heard of that.

[SPEAKER_03]: I've heard about, I've heard about those TikTok bands.

[SPEAKER_03]: So here's, here's my first, like, for real for real question for you.

[SPEAKER_03]: How do you think social media affects the way you see yourself and others?

[SPEAKER_04]: Can you repeat that?

[SPEAKER_04]: Yeah, sure.

[SPEAKER_03]: Thank you.

[SPEAKER_03]: That's a good question.

[SPEAKER_03]: Look, please learn to be like Trinity if you didn't get a question you asked as for it again.

[SPEAKER_03]: How do you think social media affects the way you see yourself and others?

[SPEAKER_04]: Um, that's a really good question.

[SPEAKER_04]: Um, I feel like it affects because you can see like other people online and you're like, hey, like I want to be like that as well.

[SPEAKER_04]: And you can see yourself differently when you look at other people.

[SPEAKER_04]: But, um, half the time, everything is fake.

[SPEAKER_04]: And a guy is going to load to brew.

[SPEAKER_04]: It'll get, it'll get a little to brew.

[SPEAKER_04]: So you don't know what is real, what's fake.

[SPEAKER_04]: But, um, yeah, that's how I, that's my take on it.

[SPEAKER_04]: Gotcha.

[SPEAKER_03]: It's hard.

[SPEAKER_03]: It's hard to sort that out, right?

[SPEAKER_03]: Yeah, it is.

[SPEAKER_03]: Back from fiction.

[SPEAKER_03]: Excellent.

[SPEAKER_03]: How about you, John?

[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, I would say like Trinity said, it's like you can compare yourself with other people, especially people you look up to like they have such a much better life than you.

[SPEAKER_01]: But like on social media, you can always just edit it.

[SPEAKER_01]: You're always going to see the best of what they have.

[SPEAKER_01]: You're not going to see their whole life.

[SPEAKER_02]: So yeah, yeah.

[SPEAKER_01]: It can make you see yourself in a negative light.

[SPEAKER_01]: So it's part of the reason why I don't have it.

[SPEAKER_02]: Gotcha.

[SPEAKER_02]: How about you?

[SPEAKER_02]: I basically said what I was going to say.

[SPEAKER_02]: Okay, so here's my next question.

[SPEAKER_03]: Why don't we start with you, Rebecca, so that you get the first fresh take at it.

[SPEAKER_03]: When you're scrolling through your feed, what kinds of posts make you feel encouraged and what makes you feel drained?

[SPEAKER_05]: I feel like it's some of the ones that are like the Christian ones that help encourage me or just really being encouraging ones that like encourage you to like chase your dreams or just do stuff to like help you and help others.

[SPEAKER_05]: But the draining ones are kind of just the ones that feel fake or when they're like tell you how to change yourself.

[SPEAKER_05]: It's kind of like [SPEAKER_05]: And it's about things that don't really need changing.

[SPEAKER_03]: I see.

[SPEAKER_03]: So like so you can sense it like maybe there's marketing or campaigning that's that's kind of coming at you, right?

[SPEAKER_03]: And that is draining.

[SPEAKER_03]: What would be some of the things that you might see if you were scrolling through the fee that was send the message of you should change this about you.

[SPEAKER_03]: What would the this be?

[SPEAKER_05]: Um, sometimes it's like you should change your personality or you should change how you look or glow up and stuff like that.

[SPEAKER_05]: And sometimes that kind of stuff is kind of toxic for people because you don't really need to change yourself.

[SPEAKER_03]: Yeah.

[SPEAKER_03]: Yeah.

[SPEAKER_03]: So, John, I know you, I know you're not on there.

[SPEAKER_03]: You, you, you a free man.

[SPEAKER_03]: So, so, so Trinity, but how about you?

[SPEAKER_03]: How would you answer this?

[SPEAKER_03]: What are the kind of things that come on your feet that you're like?

[SPEAKER_03]: This is like, um, this feels encouraging, right?

[SPEAKER_03]: It almost gives you like kind of an optimism or even a buzz.

[SPEAKER_03]: And one of the things that feel really draining for you.

[SPEAKER_04]: So, um, things are making, like, [SPEAKER_04]: Yeah, like the first one, the first question.

[SPEAKER_04]: Oh, when I hear like old TikTok sounds like I don't know how to explain it like the early twenty twenty sounds when I was like half year and then a lot of all that best of wasn't happening.

[SPEAKER_04]: That makes me feel excited and TikTok sounds.

[SPEAKER_03]: Is that like the voice over?

[SPEAKER_03]: Or do you mean like kind of a child song songs?

[SPEAKER_04]: Like songs that artists create it and they take a part of it and then they add on to it.

[SPEAKER_04]: Okay.

[SPEAKER_04]: That's okay to us.

[SPEAKER_04]: Come on.

[SPEAKER_04]: And Christian TikTok as well because I just I just love to see it.

[SPEAKER_04]: Like I love people seeing people also doing what I love.

[SPEAKER_04]: Well, and then the things that's kind of like draining to me is like when I see like a Christian post and it's like, oh yeah, if you scroll, if you scroll past this post, then you're cursed.

[SPEAKER_04]: Oh, okay.

[SPEAKER_03]: Yeah, those.

[SPEAKER_04]: And the ones that are kind of like, lower back, I said that are kind of like toxic, like better kind of saddening a little bit has to be like, oh, that's not, yeah, just me.

[SPEAKER_03]: No, I hear that.

[SPEAKER_03]: That makes a lot of sense.

[SPEAKER_03]: You know, one of the things that I, so to me, it's a person who grew up with our social media and then as I was an adult social media became the thing that I have found really interesting and also because I'm a psychologist is, yes, people definitely have a narrative of their life that you're like, is that true real life?

[SPEAKER_03]: Like, that's the field to like, what's going on right now?

[SPEAKER_03]: And kind of paint things in a way where they're only showing like the highlights.

[SPEAKER_03]: But now there's like a new trend where people do show and I don't know if it's performative but like the low lights.

[SPEAKER_03]: So people might have a video recording like today was awful and like they're crying.

[SPEAKER_03]: And then they've recorded that and they're like, but today is great.

[SPEAKER_03]: And then they're happy.

[SPEAKER_03]: So it's like they're creating what feels like a little mini reality show.

[SPEAKER_03]: Is that something that you've seen?

[SPEAKER_04]: Yeah, and have that time.

[SPEAKER_04]: There are a lot of like trolls and people be trolling.

[SPEAKER_04]: So like people in the comments just be like, why'd you set up the camera just to cry?

[SPEAKER_04]: So some people would just be like, I don't know, because you can't tell if it's real or fake.

[SPEAKER_04]: So you can't tell if somebody was actually genuinely sad or they're just doing it for the views and for the likes.

[SPEAKER_04]: So to be.

[SPEAKER_03]: I mean, that has stood out to me.

[SPEAKER_03]: Is that something that you've seen Rebecca?

[SPEAKER_05]: Yeah, I have seen that.

[SPEAKER_05]: Some of it slightly feels real, but when you're just like sitting in front of the camera crying, it's kind of like [SPEAKER_05]: be not.

[SPEAKER_03]: Yeah, and John, what are your thoughts about that?

[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, it's definitely like a problem with it.

[SPEAKER_01]: Like people, cloud chase, they like seek attention on social media, like the seek likes and views.

[SPEAKER_01]: So doing that, like sitting in front of your camera crying, like you don't know if they're actually like going through that, or they're just trying to get your attention.

[SPEAKER_01]: So you never really know that's troubling.

[SPEAKER_03]: What is definitely, is definitely different, definitely unusual, right?

[SPEAKER_03]: Do you think it's possible to be both authentic and safe on social media?

[SPEAKER_04]: I do.

[SPEAKER_03]: Okay.

[SPEAKER_03]: I talk about that.

[SPEAKER_03]: Do you feel like how you show up is authentic in like what percentage of authenticity is your social media world?

[SPEAKER_04]: I would say like a good like it's going to be interesting because it's good seventy percent.

[SPEAKER_03]: Okay.

[SPEAKER_04]: Like my holiday to my reals, it's just about like flag football, like me, obviously.

[SPEAKER_04]: Yeah.

[SPEAKER_04]: And just all of that.

[SPEAKER_04]: So I mean, it's not really nothing fake about music, that's that.

[SPEAKER_03]: Yeah.

[SPEAKER_03]: And that's the part, the slice of who you are that you want to share.

[SPEAKER_04]: Yes, man.

[SPEAKER_03]: Okay.

[SPEAKER_03]: It is.

[SPEAKER_03]: Gotcha.

[SPEAKER_03]: So you would say, yes, there can be an authenticity in that space.

[SPEAKER_03]: Rebecca, we'll go to you.

[SPEAKER_03]: And then, John, I want you to talk to chime in as well as someone who's kind of separated from that.

[SPEAKER_05]: Um, yeah, I feel like you can be authentic.

[SPEAKER_05]: It's just kind of like certain things, but probably don't need sharing even if it is authentic because I think what some people don't understand is being authentic doesn't mean you have to share every little bit of your life.

[SPEAKER_05]: Like there's things you don't have to share and it's perfectly fine and nobody should get mad at you for it because it's your life, your choice.

[SPEAKER_05]: Yeah, but some people think just so people will pay attention to them.

[SPEAKER_05]: They'll get a certain amount of views.

[SPEAKER_05]: They have to be fake.

[SPEAKER_05]: But I rather have someone that's authentic and not as many people know about them, that somebody that everyone knows about and isn't authentic.

[SPEAKER_03]: Yeah.

[SPEAKER_03]: How do you figure out what you want to post and what you don't want to post?

[SPEAKER_03]: Just listening to you just now and talk about like, yeah, you can be authentic, but you actually don't owe anybody all of your story and who you are.

[SPEAKER_03]: So how do you make a decision about how you want to use or curate shape your social media presence?

[SPEAKER_05]: Well, I hardly post, but if I were to post, I feel like you should post something that'll like maybe brighten someone's day a bit, or you should just show like that someone isn't alone in something they're going through, but like you don't have to show me everything about it.

[SPEAKER_05]: Like you could talk about it, but certain things you don't need to actually share in that moment, or like share somebody else's hardships, you shouldn't share that.

[SPEAKER_05]: Even if they say yes, you [SPEAKER_05]: really shouldn't because it's kind of a personal moment for them and I don't think you should really share that and yeah you should just really think about how that can make somebody on the other side feel but then also the person that you're posting like if you're posting someone else how they would feel about if people say stuff about them [SPEAKER_03]: Yeah.

[SPEAKER_03]: So listening to you, I mean, this is in the language that you said, and we didn't start the question this way, but that feels like we call ethics, right?

[SPEAKER_03]: So how we behave that shows our character and the regard that we have for other people.

[SPEAKER_03]: So like, what are my ethics and how I engage social media?

[SPEAKER_03]: And so John, I know, again, you were free, man, you're not on social media.

[SPEAKER_03]: But I bet you would have some insights about what might be some good ethics that would help shape if someone is on social media.

[SPEAKER_03]: kind of a healthy and authentic presence.

[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, um connecting to what Rebecca said, she said that you can be like authentic and not share every single detail of your life.

[SPEAKER_01]: Cause like imagine if like you had like an embarrassing moment with your friend like you too did something stupid and like gotten trouble.

[SPEAKER_03]: Cause that happens.

[SPEAKER_01]: And you shared that on your Instagram, right?

[SPEAKER_01]: Like what if your friend didn't want that getting out and you're just like stepping over their privacy and there's like freedom in their boundaries.

[SPEAKER_01]: Like sometimes there's just stuff that about your life as you don't have to share with everyone.

[SPEAKER_01]: You can still be real.

[SPEAKER_01]: Like you're not superficial if you don't share every single thing.

[SPEAKER_01]: So there's a sweet spot in authentic and then real.

[SPEAKER_03]: I mean, that also sounds like having people's permission when you share content that is a part of their story and not just yours, right?

[SPEAKER_03]: So if they're in the background, I can think about seeing all kinds of stuff on like this social media feed, where maybe someone [SPEAKER_03]: Yeah, something people are laughing, but it could be deeply embarrassing to the person who's experiencing it.

[SPEAKER_03]: And now is kind of content for public consumption, right?

[SPEAKER_03]: And they didn't want to be a comedian, and they didn't want to be the reason why people are laughing, potentially, right?

[SPEAKER_03]: So I think that's really helpful to think about like, what are the ethics that need to show up in social media?

[SPEAKER_03]: So here's my next question.

[SPEAKER_03]: How do you navigate your faith in online spaces?

[SPEAKER_03]: And do you ever post about your beliefs or your convictions?

[SPEAKER_04]: is I do what I do sometimes.

[SPEAKER_04]: I am fun Bible verses because a lot of them a lot of Bible verses are in Instagram and I usually do it on Instagram.

[SPEAKER_04]: I repost them and put them to my story.

[SPEAKER_04]: I put stuff in my notes like right now.

[SPEAKER_04]: I just have like like a little like just read your wife we all.

[SPEAKER_04]: I've got a lot of luck and luck and luck and luck and luck guys, please and yeah, I see a lot of other creators and my other friends do the same thing.

[SPEAKER_04]: So I'm just like, yeah, you know what happened?

[SPEAKER_03]: Yeah, so it may not be that you're [SPEAKER_03]: Obviously in your notes, you're putting kind of like a reminder like, hey, lean into this, but also just sharing the other content of Bible verses or things that are inspirational.

[SPEAKER_03]: Excellent.

[SPEAKER_03]: Excellent.

[SPEAKER_03]: Okay.

[SPEAKER_03]: And Rebecca, how about you?

[SPEAKER_03]: How is your faith show up in the way you engage or on social media?

[SPEAKER_03]: What you do or what you don't do?

[SPEAKER_00]: Ten by ten is a movement committed to working together with churches, denominations, and Christian organizations to create a healthier Christian ecosystem where young people's faith can thrive.

[SPEAKER_00]: Ten by ten focuses on providing the resources that faith communities need to prioritize youth discipleship by working collaboratively with over one hundred organizations.

[SPEAKER_00]: ten by ten aims to raise youth discipleship to a top priority for ministry leaders.

[SPEAKER_00]: Visit one zero one zero dot org and follow at ten by ten collab on social media to learn more.

[SPEAKER_00]: Together we can inspire and uplift the next generation in their faith journey.

[SPEAKER_05]: What certain things is kind of like like say it's bashing on faith or just bashing another person look for like no reason when they didn't do anything.

[SPEAKER_05]: I probably wouldn't watch that because it's just like not a good mindset to have for somebody else watching because that could kind of be it but that's not only rude to that one person but say someone has in common with that person too then it's kind of like it's kind of being rude to them too so you got it and John again [SPEAKER_03]: As you think about your faith, your belief system, how is that shape, your kind of boundary around social media?

[SPEAKER_01]: Uh, yeah, I would say.

[SPEAKER_01]: like on social media like if I had it I definitely like follow like Christian creators like even if like my favorite like creator wasn't Christian like if they're like content isn't religion related I'd so follow them but I'd like to connect with people who share the same faith as me so I can have someone to look up to and like practice my faith with and connect with them on that [SPEAKER_03]: So social media can also be an opportunity, obviously, for you to share out, but to find other people who have similar beliefs and convictions.

[SPEAKER_03]: You can be inspired by each other or model that sort of going for it.

[SPEAKER_03]: So excellent.

[SPEAKER_03]: Have you ever taken a break from social media?

[SPEAKER_03]: And I feel like, Trinity, this might be your question, because I think you've been potentially on it the longest, and maybe even more, the most active.

[SPEAKER_03]: So have you ever taken a social media break and do you, and do you announce it?

[SPEAKER_03]: You know, there's some folks that are like, [SPEAKER_03]: Harry, Harry, I am now leaving for three months.

[SPEAKER_03]: So what does that look like for you?

[SPEAKER_04]: Um, yeah, actually, yeah.

[SPEAKER_04]: I had to take a step back for me because I've been seeing like a lot of negative stuff and like I was just noticing, I was like, yeah, I'm not a negative person.

[SPEAKER_04]: So let me scoot back a little bit from this because it's kind of crazy.

[SPEAKER_04]: And at first, it was my mom's idea because I have something on my phone called parental controls.

[SPEAKER_04]: Yeah, so she can chose my ass and stuff.

[SPEAKER_04]: So she's like, you know what, today I feel like you shouldn't have your ass today.

[SPEAKER_04]: I'm like, oh, you're right.

[SPEAKER_04]: So I took a little break for a minute and I'm just like, oh, this is going to help me like it's not wrong, which is reading the book.

[SPEAKER_04]: Yeah, nothing right at all, which is cracking open the book or [SPEAKER_04]: Yeah, I feel like it's really good.

[SPEAKER_04]: And I know I do not.

[SPEAKER_04]: Yeah, yeah, I can take.

[SPEAKER_04]: Yeah, yeah.

[SPEAKER_03]: Well, I mean, well, listening to you talk about the parental controls piece, right?

[SPEAKER_03]: So what does that give your your mom?

[SPEAKER_03]: I think you mentioned your mom.

[SPEAKER_03]: What is that give your mom access to?

[SPEAKER_04]: Okay, so she can lock my app, she can unlock my app, she can lock my whole phone, she can unlock my phone.

[SPEAKER_04]: And sometimes when she wants to get my attention, she does a alarm, because it's an alarm thing on there.

[SPEAKER_04]: And it sounds on my phone, so I know when to be like, hey mom, what's up?

[SPEAKER_04]: Wow.

[SPEAKER_04]: It's like, yeah.

[SPEAKER_03]: Excellent.

[SPEAKER_03]: Are any of you familiar with that?

[SPEAKER_05]: Prento controls.

[SPEAKER_05]: I had them for a while, but then my parents shut it off from me one time and I forgot to tell them to turn it back.

[SPEAKER_03]: Yeah, I see, I see, okay, they may be reminded when they see this, but yes, I see.

[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, yeah, you said that on my phone for games, if I wanted to play a game, they could stop me from doing that, like set time limit, so I couldn't use it for like more than an hour a day.

[SPEAKER_03]: So what are your thoughts about that?

[SPEAKER_03]: Most people, the human beings, we like a sense of autonomy and freedom, no matter what our age is, but especially like even more so like adolescents are like, hey, let me be me.

[SPEAKER_03]: But what do you think?

[SPEAKER_03]: If you were advising some parents about parental controls, knowing your generation, what would your advice be to them?

[SPEAKER_04]: Um, I feel like my advice would be like not to lock it all day.

[SPEAKER_04]: Because since I do, um, since I do, um, activities and like sports and stuff outside of like being at home and stuff, I do actually need my phone for a lot of things.

[SPEAKER_04]: And sometimes when I'm not on it, um, and I do need it.

[SPEAKER_04]: I'm like, hey, mom, you got to get on like my phone.

[SPEAKER_04]: You forgot.

[SPEAKER_04]: She'll be like, um, I'll walk it in a minute and I'm like, [SPEAKER_04]: So I would just say, um, not all day, just a little part of the game.

[SPEAKER_03]: But it sounds like you are also saying though that the parents probably should use it.

[SPEAKER_04]: Yeah, depending on the kid.

[SPEAKER_03]: Okay.

[SPEAKER_04]: I'll say depending on the kid.

[SPEAKER_03]: Okay.

[SPEAKER_03]: All right.

[SPEAKER_03]: How about you all?

[SPEAKER_01]: I would say it's definitely been a beneficial because like given like you could be using your phone too much like averages like ten hours a day these days on but teenagers so you can limiting that as good so that they can always find other things to do and like develop good habits.

[SPEAKER_03]: So it sounds like not even so much about the parent seeing like what the kid is doing, but like limiting the amount of access to it.

[SPEAKER_03]: So it's not like a trust issue.

[SPEAKER_03]: It's more of like a restraint.

[SPEAKER_04]: Yeah, because a lot of kids have trouble with being on one app for so long and I've had that problem where I've been on an app for like [SPEAKER_04]: Almost all day and I just been thinking back on them like yeah, that's not healthy.

[SPEAKER_04]: Yeah, and just think and just like remind me like just remembering all that like my head was hurting like I was sleepy earlier.

[SPEAKER_04]: I'll stay up like it's not that good to have.

[SPEAKER_03]: Yeah, how it impacts your brain what might that app have been as you look back on that what would have been the app that you that we have had your attention for a large part of the day.

[SPEAKER_04]: probably Instagram if I'm being okay it's TikTok I've been on TikTok a lot and it has like a lot of Christian stuff on it and I like it like a lot it's a lot more on TikTok a little more but yeah back then it was Instagram is Snapchat it was so bad gotcha gotcha Rebecca how about you so let's say you're giving advice to a parent who's like should I have these parental controls [SPEAKER_05]: I think it's somewhat depends on the kid, like what they said.

[SPEAKER_05]: But then sometimes, also kind of the age, and sometimes some people just have to learn from themselves.

[SPEAKER_05]: But if it goes on for a while, then they don't eventually learn them maybe.

[SPEAKER_05]: Yeah.

[SPEAKER_03]: So why don't each of you give me your wisdom?

[SPEAKER_03]: What age do you think someone should be in order to be on social media?

[SPEAKER_04]: To be on social media?

[SPEAKER_04]: If I'm being completely honest, probably, thirteen.

[SPEAKER_04]: Because a lot of, there's a lot of weirdos out there in English, a lot of weirdos.

[SPEAKER_04]: So I feel like if you're thirteen, at least you have like, [SPEAKER_04]: like some type of maturity, any bit, like any tiny bit.

[SPEAKER_04]: So you know what's a wooden stuff?

[SPEAKER_04]: Cause like if you're nine or ten or younger, you can just be looking at some stuff you just like, yeah, nah, you might not know what to do or what not to do.

[SPEAKER_04]: But there are a lot of kids that are very, very, very, very intelligent, very smart, like Rebecca and she's love it.

[SPEAKER_04]: So yeah, I would say it also depends on the kid too.

[SPEAKER_04]: So that's just me.

[SPEAKER_05]: Thatcha, thatcha.

[SPEAKER_05]: Rebecca, how about you?

[SPEAKER_05]: Um, I feel like thirteen is good age and that's what actually social media usually says where you can't make an account till you turn thirteen and I know a lot of people don't really mind when kids get social media, but I feel like thirteen's a good age or even if you get in a few months before you turn thirteen, but like having her earlier than that, it's kind of like, maybe not.

[SPEAKER_03]: Yeah.

[SPEAKER_03]: Yeah, so in agreement with basically the kind of the internet system itself, which says about age around thirteen, John, how about you?

[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, I agree with thirteen.

[SPEAKER_01]: I'd say it definitely depends on the kid.

[SPEAKER_01]: Like some are more mature than others.

[SPEAKER_01]: Like some may meet it later.

[SPEAKER_01]: Some may be able to get it earlier.

[SPEAKER_01]: Definitely like nowhere close to like ten or eleven.

[SPEAKER_01]: Like maybe like a really mature eleven year old maybe like a really mature ten year old.

[SPEAKER_01]: Like like if you're nine or eight, you can you can fake your age and just say you're older.

[SPEAKER_01]: So that's always a risk.

[SPEAKER_01]: So you should always like make sure that your kid if they're super young isn't on social media because I know a lot of kids are.

[SPEAKER_03]: Well, that would make the case for the parental controls, right?

[SPEAKER_03]: Like those pieces too.

[SPEAKER_03]: So okay.

[SPEAKER_03]: influencers, like that's that's somewhat of a new thing.

[SPEAKER_03]: I mean, I've always been people who have been celebrities or famous, but like online influencers is a completely different brand.

[SPEAKER_03]: There are some people who are in tire celebrity is based on the way they show up online, right?

[SPEAKER_03]: And the entertainment of self that they provide, which again, we wouldn't have had this conversation in twenty five years ago.

[SPEAKER_03]: Maybe even fifteen years ago, we really wouldn't have had this conversation.

[SPEAKER_03]: So [SPEAKER_03]: what role do influencers or online personalities play in shaping how teens think are act today?

[SPEAKER_03]: And I'm not talking about you because you know, you independent thinkers, okay?

[SPEAKER_03]: But how have you seen it shape the way that people in your age range of how they think and how they act?

[SPEAKER_03]: How important, how impactful are online influencers?

[SPEAKER_03]: And I guess my other follow-up question will be [SPEAKER_03]: Are there online influencers that are like the people that you would say that that folks in your age range are following like what are the names to know?

[SPEAKER_04]: Okay.

[SPEAKER_04]: This is a really good question.

[SPEAKER_04]: So I feel like influencers do make a great impact on teens because I feel like as like young people we see like a lot of people like with a lot of followers and they look like this and dress like this with their like, hey, maybe I should you know take their word for you know.

[SPEAKER_04]: And I feel like they, um, yeah, they influence, they influence because they're influenced.

[SPEAKER_04]: I feel like they have a great impact on a lot of younger generations and stuff.

[SPEAKER_04]: And yeah, that's just my opinion.

[SPEAKER_03]: What are some of the who are some of the influencers that come to mind for you?

[SPEAKER_04]: Um, Cory Kenshin.

[SPEAKER_04]: I love Cory Kenshin.

[SPEAKER_04]: Okay, so tell me who that is.

[SPEAKER_03]: Um, he- Tell the old people that are watching who that is.

[SPEAKER_04]: Oh, Cory Kenshin.

[SPEAKER_04]: Cory Kenshin does gaming and he's a Christian and he does a verse like everyone in his videos.

[SPEAKER_04]: So like before his videos, he does a verse and then he starts his game, his gaming.

[SPEAKER_04]: So I like everybody like we're Kenshin.

[SPEAKER_04]: Love you, Cory Kenshin.

[SPEAKER_04]: Okay.

[SPEAKER_04]: Anybody else come to mind?

[SPEAKER_04]: um my cousin actually okay she does make up she does she does make up and she does like a lot she makes rugs okay and she has pretty much a lot of followers and a lot of teens like tap into her stuff she's like hey like maybe maybe we should make rugs too like I don't know how to explain it but [SPEAKER_04]: For a hot man, I was like, yeah, I kind of want to make a road.

[SPEAKER_03]: So definitely an influencer.

[SPEAKER_03]: Yeah.

[SPEAKER_01]: Okay.

[SPEAKER_03]: Awesome.

[SPEAKER_03]: Very cool.

[SPEAKER_03]: John, how about you?

[SPEAKER_03]: What would you say?

[SPEAKER_03]: Yeah.

[SPEAKER_01]: I would say just like, if people look up to the person, like, if they see them doing something, then they're going to try to do that too, because like, everybody wants to be famous, like, especially when they're young, like, knowing like, [SPEAKER_01]: Oh, I want to have people look up to me.

[SPEAKER_01]: I want to have people love me.

[SPEAKER_01]: So definitely, they're just going to try and do what they see their favorite people doing.

[SPEAKER_01]: And so like Jen had he said, I definitely want to score a convention.

[SPEAKER_01]: He's my favorite gaming YouTuber.

[SPEAKER_01]: Okay.

[SPEAKER_03]: So, okay.

[SPEAKER_03]: Anybody else come to mind?

[SPEAKER_01]: Um, I wouldn't be able, like, I'm not really familiar with all the influence on most social medias, but like on YouTube.

[SPEAKER_03]: Yeah, YouTube is like a whole world of itself.

[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah.

[SPEAKER_01]: I definitely say like, Corey, like, chison at Azure Speed, Mr.

Beast, most of those like big streamers and like big video YouTubers that people look up to.

[SPEAKER_03]: Okay, very cool.

[SPEAKER_03]: Thank y'all.

[SPEAKER_03]: Rebecca, how about you?

[SPEAKER_05]: I feel like invoices can be both good and bad because like they said that people want to be like them because they look up to them, which isn't always good, but it's sometimes good.

[SPEAKER_05]: But when they feel like they have to like look a certain way and be a act a certain way and that's like not them, then it's kind of not that good.

[SPEAKER_03]: Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[SPEAKER_03]: when it shows you who you must be right instead of just like showing you kind of a diversity of different things that are happening right the pressure is there.

[SPEAKER_03]: Are there any influencers that come to mind for you?

[SPEAKER_05]: No.

[SPEAKER_03]: No, yeah, I can't answer that question really either.

[SPEAKER_03]: I actually probably know some, but I don't even think about social media really in that way.

[SPEAKER_03]: And I probably personally know a lot of influencers.

[SPEAKER_03]: Okay, so here's my next question.

[SPEAKER_03]: Next in last question for you all.

[SPEAKER_03]: If you could redesign social media, if you got your magic wand, you're making it happen.

[SPEAKER_03]: If you could redesign social media to make it more positive and crisis centered, what would you change?

[SPEAKER_04]: Um, I would change, um, especially if you're Christian.

[SPEAKER_04]: I mean, we all make mistakes, you know, but like I'll do like, like sometimes what they have on Roblox, like if you're talking in a chat and if you cause maybe censored that off, um, okay, we have like an age thing where you actually know the person's age, um, safety wise and just specific words like say, for example, somebody's in your DM and they say something inappropriate or like not nice or whatever.

[SPEAKER_04]: They can, like, you can know inside the chat.

[SPEAKER_04]: So everybody can be safe and everybody can be happy and positive.

[SPEAKER_04]: For sure.

[SPEAKER_04]: I feel like, yeah.

[SPEAKER_03]: For sure.

[SPEAKER_03]: So some boundaries around the way people communicate.

[SPEAKER_03]: Yes.

[SPEAKER_03]: And some ways to verify, like, the actual ages of people that are using it.

[SPEAKER_03]: So to cut back on kind of predatory behavior.

[SPEAKER_04]: Okay.

[SPEAKER_04]: I'll also, oh, I'm sorry.

[SPEAKER_04]: Yeah.

[SPEAKER_04]: I'll also add, like, a verse before you, like, get into the app.

[SPEAKER_04]: I add, like, a daily verse on it, like, before you go into it, like, [SPEAKER_03]: Yeah, you guys study the word as it is.

[SPEAKER_03]: Yeah, what do you say?

[SPEAKER_03]: Okay, got you down.

[SPEAKER_03]: How about you?

[SPEAKER_03]: How would you redesign social media?

[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, I can't say I really have a definite answer for that.

[SPEAKER_01]: But I've always been curious, like what if in social media, like the concept of followers, like, wasn't like a thing?

[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah.

[SPEAKER_01]: like every single channel has like the same level of outreach and it reaches like the same people like what if like likes was nothing like you really can't have like that comparison there so I was just I'm just like putting it up there's like what if like that was like how would that change everything yeah I mean I think so from a from a neuroscience standpoint if you take away the likes you take away a part of the addiction because that's what gives the dopamine high like the brain gets a buzz when people are when people post something that like happens [SPEAKER_03]: It really does in live in the brain, right?

[SPEAKER_03]: And so if you take that, and if people do that, it's kind of like the same thing that happens in gaming.

[SPEAKER_03]: And so that's, that's an added part, right?

[SPEAKER_03]: So that's why we kind of stay, we stay on our phones, we stay connected that way.

[SPEAKER_03]: Rebecca, if you got to redesign social media to make it more positive, to make it more healthy, and to like show off your faith, what are some of the things that you would change?

[SPEAKER_05]: I would make it a way to where you can like actually figure out someone's real age.

[SPEAKER_05]: I would probably not take out the likes and followers just because some people get paid off those things and that's how they survive.

[SPEAKER_03]: So this is the business.

[SPEAKER_05]: That's they're living.

[SPEAKER_05]: But I would make it to where like [SPEAKER_05]: People can't like hate comment like it gets deleted right away because I feel like hating on someone why hate when you could just skip it.

[SPEAKER_03]: So some some ethical censoring around like trolling right and online bullying.

[SPEAKER_03]: Those would be things that you would make sure that social media was fixed around those things.

[SPEAKER_05]: And I think creepy people, they say something creepy, their account should be deleted immediately.

[SPEAKER_03]: I hear that.

[SPEAKER_03]: Well, I'm so grateful to have been able to have this conversation with you.

[SPEAKER_03]: I feel a little bit wiser about social media and teens, and I know our audience is going to really be grateful to hear what you have to say.

[SPEAKER_03]: So thank you.