You may have noticed the lack of activity on the blog recently. First off, I apologize for the inconsistent updates lately. But you may have also noticed a new feature that launched—
my.CBN.com. For the last several months, the CBN.com team has been working to create our very own social network; a place where users can create profiles, connect with others, help sponsor fundraising goals and grow in their faith together. So even though the blog has been a little stagnate, we have been staying busy! (Thanks for your patience by the way!)
The launch of our own social network has come at an interesting time for social media. When the mainstream media had their access restricted in Iran during protest following disputed election results, the world turned to another medium to see what was happening. Citizen journalists, activists and protestors armed only with cell phone cameras, lap tops and internet connects posted images and updates about the oppressive crackdown on social networking sites. Even the United States government attested to the power of this new medium. During the heights of the upheaval in Iran, the State Department requested that the micro-blogging site Twitter post-pone pre-scheduled site maintenance because “tweets” from the protests had become so vital to allowing the world to see what was happening on the streets of Iran.
In a later press briefing, an official from the State Department said, "I think, as I was following this … I began to recognize the importance of new social media as a vital tool for citizens' empowerment and as a way for people to get their messages out.”
And though the social media concept of “citizen empowerment” has captured the world’s attention for its ability showcase political oppression and social unrest, it is just one of the reasons why traditional media is giving way to a new kind of mass communications—one that is relational.
The example of what happened in Iran is just one of the signs of a shifting tide in the way people communicate. In the last year, thousands of CBN.com users have received ministry through live chat rooms during our Spiritual Gifts webcasts. Now, connection can happen around the clock as users create profiles, invite friends and post their own content to the community.
To learn more about the new community, you can read my recent article, “
What Is My.CBN.com?” and of course,
join the community and try it out for yourself. We can’t wait to connect with you.