Comments on: teens and cell phone use http://whyismarko.com/2008/teens-and-cell-phone-use/ life, faith, youth ministry, emerging church, leadership, whimsy Tue, 22 May 2012 22:17:47 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Adam Lehman http://whyismarko.com/2008/teens-and-cell-phone-use/comment-page-1/#comment-1143901 Adam Lehman Sat, 05 Jul 2008 17:54:51 +0000 http://www.ysmarko.com/?p=2544#comment-1143901 if you're not utilizing texting to draw students into deeper relationships then you are missing out. Don't settle for texting, but start there. there are some great services that deliver information to a mass group of people via text message. do some research on these as they are all different. if you’re not utilizing texting to draw students into deeper relationships then you are missing out. Don’t settle for texting, but start there.

there are some great services that deliver information to a mass group of people via text message. do some research on these as they are all different.

]]> By: Alicia http://whyismarko.com/2008/teens-and-cell-phone-use/comment-page-1/#comment-857930 Alicia Tue, 11 Mar 2008 23:11:07 +0000 http://www.ysmarko.com/?p=2544#comment-857930 I have middle school youth, all but two of my fourteen have cell phones. They fuss and fight about turning OFF the phones during our meeting time(and I had a cell phone bucket for them to put them into, but relented to letting them have them but not use them. They tried anyway so now we have NO cell phones on during youth). They have to turn them off in front of me. I do not think that a hour on Sundays and 45 minutes on Wednesday nights without their cell phone is gonna kill them. It is completely distracting during our meetings and they don't pay attention to the reason they are there in the first place. If they sneak them, then I go to parents. We compromise and they can use them during events, travel, as long as it is not while someone is speaking or during a small group musical setting. It is just plain rude, in my opinion, to use cell phones during these times. For the most part, I don't have too much trouble, though there are a couple who try to buck any guidelines that I try to set(their parents are the same way, so it's a losing battle there). I have middle school youth, all but two of my fourteen have cell phones. They fuss and fight about turning OFF the phones during our meeting time(and I had a cell phone bucket for them to put them into, but relented to letting them have them but not use them. They tried anyway so now we have NO cell phones on during youth). They have to turn them off in front of me. I do not think that a hour on Sundays and 45 minutes on Wednesday nights without their cell phone is gonna kill them. It is completely distracting during our meetings and they don’t pay attention to the reason they are there in the first place. If they sneak them, then I go to parents. We compromise and they can use them during events, travel, as long as it is not while someone is speaking or during a small group musical setting. It is just plain rude, in my opinion, to use cell phones during these times. For the most part, I don’t have too much trouble, though there are a couple who try to buck any guidelines that I try to set(their parents are the same way, so it’s a losing battle there).

]]> By: Kristen http://whyismarko.com/2008/teens-and-cell-phone-use/comment-page-1/#comment-857432 Kristen Tue, 11 Mar 2008 18:48:15 +0000 http://www.ysmarko.com/?p=2544#comment-857432 I text the youth all the time. Occasionaly, this has led to some conversations that I don't think they would have had in person; same type of safety youth once found in emailing... this is just easier, faster, mobile...etc. However, I don't allow my youth to bring phones on our two week summer mission trip. They all comment how 'free' they feel after the initial shock and de-toxing time. One student 'gave his up for lent' this year... and has experienced a similar freedom and renewed appreciation for REAL face to face. They aren't bad. Like anything moderation and appropriate use can be a great tool for ministry and life. I text the youth all the time. Occasionaly, this has led to some conversations that I don’t think they would have had in person; same type of safety youth once found in emailing… this is just easier, faster, mobile…etc. However, I don’t allow my youth to bring phones on our two week summer mission trip. They all comment how ‘free’ they feel after the initial shock and de-toxing time. One student ‘gave his up for lent’ this year… and has experienced a similar freedom and renewed appreciation for REAL face to face. They aren’t bad. Like anything moderation and appropriate use can be a great tool for ministry and life.

]]> By: dan http://whyismarko.com/2008/teens-and-cell-phone-use/comment-page-1/#comment-849302 dan Sat, 08 Mar 2008 04:16:33 +0000 http://www.ysmarko.com/?p=2544#comment-849302 Best phone I've seen for texting - the iPhone. Others might have the same feature, but it will display text conversations like a chat room, and does not limit storage to 50 messages like my old phone did. Best phone I’ve seen for texting – the iPhone. Others might have the same feature, but it will display text conversations like a chat room, and does not limit storage to 50 messages like my old phone did.

]]> By: David Moss http://whyismarko.com/2008/teens-and-cell-phone-use/comment-page-1/#comment-849111 David Moss Sat, 08 Mar 2008 02:33:23 +0000 http://www.ysmarko.com/?p=2544#comment-849111 So here is a question I've been wrestling with - are the days of "don't bring your cell phone, ipod, etc. to the lock-in/retreat" over? Or is it more important than ever? I have lots of both positive and negatives I could come up with - but maybe I should ask our kids first!? So here is a question I’ve been wrestling with – are the days of “don’t bring your cell phone, ipod, etc. to the lock-in/retreat” over? Or is it more important than ever? I have lots of both positive and negatives I could come up with – but maybe I should ask our kids first!?

]]> By: DanRead http://whyismarko.com/2008/teens-and-cell-phone-use/comment-page-1/#comment-848277 DanRead Fri, 07 Mar 2008 18:31:24 +0000 http://www.ysmarko.com/?p=2544#comment-848277 Jess. This means we should be texting kids constantly. It's easier then any other form of contact. AND it's better received then anything else we could be doing (not that we should stop all other forms of contact). I only use text messaging when I am contacting youth and I text about 1200 times a month. I can't believe I am on the low end of these kids!!!! Jess. This means we should be texting kids constantly. It’s easier then any other form of contact. AND it’s better received then anything else we could be doing (not that we should stop all other forms of contact). I only use text messaging when I am contacting youth and I text about 1200 times a month. I can’t believe I am on the low end of these kids!!!!

]]> By: jess http://whyismarko.com/2008/teens-and-cell-phone-use/comment-page-1/#comment-848255 jess Fri, 07 Mar 2008 18:18:53 +0000 http://www.ysmarko.com/?p=2544#comment-848255 what does this information mean for us as youth ministers? i'm still trying to figure that out. what does this information mean for us as youth ministers?
i’m still trying to figure that out.

]]> By: Clint Walker http://whyismarko.com/2008/teens-and-cell-phone-use/comment-page-1/#comment-848245 Clint Walker Fri, 07 Mar 2008 18:12:36 +0000 http://www.ysmarko.com/?p=2544#comment-848245 I think another thing that it is interesting and somewhat unrelated is the other things that teens (and adults) use cell phones for. For instance, when students were not allowed to have cell phones with them at a conference this summmer, they had a hard time keeping track of time because they use it as a pocketwatch. Some cell phones also double as flashlights and nightlights, mp3s, alarm clocks etc. So if students are not sucked in by the connectedness, they are sucked in by everything else the gadget does for them as well. I think another thing that it is interesting and somewhat unrelated is the other things that teens (and adults) use cell phones for. For instance, when students were not allowed to have cell phones with them at a conference this summmer, they had a hard time keeping track of time because they use it as a pocketwatch. Some cell phones also double as flashlights and nightlights, mp3s, alarm clocks etc.
So if students are not sucked in by the connectedness, they are sucked in by everything else the gadget does for them as well.

]]> By: Eric http://whyismarko.com/2008/teens-and-cell-phone-use/comment-page-1/#comment-847849 Eric Fri, 07 Mar 2008 13:56:56 +0000 http://www.ysmarko.com/?p=2544#comment-847849 My 3 kids pay for unlimited text messages and they average between 4000 and 7000 messages for EACH kid per month. For my son I think he would really have to think about which he would rather lose for a punishment his car or his cell phone. My 3 kids pay for unlimited text messages and they average between 4000 and 7000 messages for EACH kid per month.

For my son I think he would really have to think about which he would rather lose for a punishment his car or his cell phone.

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