Facebook Turns Five

Last week, Facebook, the social networking website, turned five years old. Millions of people use Facebook to stay connected with friends, making it one of the most popular sites on the web today.

Justin Taylor summarizes Al Mohler's "suggestions for safeguarding the social networking experience":

1. Never allow social networking to replace or rival personal contact and communication.
2. Set clear parameters for the time devoted to social networking.
3. Never write or post anything on a social networking site that you would not want the world to see, or anything that would compromise your Christian witness.
4. Never allow children and teenagers to have independent social networking access (or Internet access, for that matter).
5. Do not allow children and teens to accept any "friend" unknown to you.
6. Encourage older friends and relatives to sign up and use the technology.
7. Use the social networking technology to bear witness to the Gospel, but never think that this can replace the centrality of face-to-face evangelism, witness, and discipleship.
8. Do all things to the glory of God, and do not allow social networking to become an idol or a display of narcissism.

For further explanation of these eight points, and for more thoughts, read the whole thing.

Of course, we could replace "social networking" in the points above with just about any hobby or interest and apply these principles just as well. Much of this comes down to the practice of moderation in things that are not immoral, and making sure that whatever you do is done for God's glory. Remember 1 Corinthians 10:31.