Having a profile on a social network, such as Facebook or Bebo, isn’t necessarily about intimate friendships. A virtual friendship does not always develop into a real friendship. The following definition, though not necessarily a ‘Christian’ one, is useful nonetheless:

Today’s online social networks are congeries of mostly weak ties—no one who lists thousands of “friends” on MySpace thinks of those people in the same way as he does his flesh-and-blood acquaintances, for example. It is surely no coincidence, then, that the activities social networking sites promote are precisely the ones weak ties foster, like rumor-mongering, gossip, finding people, and tracking the ever-shifting movements of popular culture and fad.

Social networking is excellent for promoting weak ties, not close friendships. Close friends can develop on Facebook or Bebo. But close friends contact each other by email, phone or in person. The social network, specifically a profile, gives a ‘virtual connection’. Until a user takes a further step and contacts a ‘virtual’ friend individually they are not, in the true sense of the word, a ‘friend’.

Anyone who regularly attends church will know that there are many weak ties in the church body. People aren’t close friends with everyone, but they join together with one common purpose, to serve Jesus. And this common purpose means that the body grows and functions as they serve each other in love. The weak are cared for, the forgotten remembered and the lost shown the way. And when meeting new people these weak ties can become strong as the gospel is lived and shared.

Online ‘weak ties’ present an opportunity and challenge to the church. Christians can show love to people who would never come through the church door. A weak tie can be formed for any reason, because of an interest in the same type of music, sport or other social group. Is it possible for social networks to provide an opportunity for the church to ‘go into all the world and preach the gospel to every people?’ When Jesus called the first disciples or spoke to the woman at the well he did not have a close relationship with them. But he gave them the choice to develop a close relationship with him. Does this mean that the entire church should join a social network and start to spread the good news? Maybe not a bad idea, but Christians should be careful how they act online.

In the run up to the next American election the presidential candidates have jumped on the social networking bandwagon:

Senator Hillary Clinton has official pages on social networking sites MySpace, Flickr, LiveJournal, Facebook, Friendster, and Orkut. As of July 1, 2007, she had a mere 52,472 friends on MySpace; her Democratic rival Senator Barack Obama had an impressive 128,859.

Presidential candidates create official pages for one reason, to try and help them win the next election by improving their status or profile. Companies and bands create pages in the desire to increase their status so that their sales will increase. And the temptation for anyone who joins a social network can be to raise their status:

The impulse to collect as many “friends” as possible on a MySpace page is not an expression of the human need for companionship, but of a different need no less profound and pressing: the need for status…

Is the call of the Christian to increase their status? Fame and popularity are not what this life is about. Christians are called to be servants, especially online. Having 1000 ‘friends’ will not make a person happier. It should not be the goal of the Christian. Instead, needs will be met in close relationship with Jesus, and close relationships with our friends. Our aim should be to increase the ‘status’ of Jesus through love:

1 Corinthians 13v4: (online) Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Gossip, envy, boasting and so forth don’t have a place in the online life of a Christian. Instead they should be known for holding back from evil, loving and protecting others:

James 1v26: If you think you are being religious, but can’t control your (online) tongue, you are fooling yourself, and everything you do is useless. 27Religion that pleases God the Father must be pure and spotless. You must help needy orphans and widows and not let this world make you evil.

James 3v8: But our (online) tongues get out of control. They are restless and evil, and always spreading deadly poison.

Christians should be honest online, but they should be careful what they share. If profiles are weak ties, why share intimate or personal details with virtual friends? Sharing only develops as trust develops.

Finally, is it possible that social networks should be used in moderation, and that real life contact is preferable?

I feel…if I’m not online or constantly texting or posting, then I’m missing something,…This is where I find the generational impact the greatest—not the use of the technology, but the overuse of the technology….It is unclear how the regular use of these sites will affect behavior over the long run—especially the behavior of children and young adults who are growing up with these tools….heavy users “feel less socially involved with the community around them.”

It is interesting to note that increased use of social networking can possibly make users feel less socially involved. Perhaps it’s too easy to become isolated. Perhaps the social network allows too much control over image, so instead of real life ‘warts and all’ contact, we let people see what we want them to see. It’s much easier to tailor image, words and thoughts online. Of course we shouldn’t take this to an extreme and ‘let it all hang out’. But as we grow in trust in honest relationships we have the opportunity to become more fully human, more fully who God intended us to be. Social networks, like most things, should probably be used in moderation.

Are weak ties a bad idea? Should we avoid social networks? Building closer ties and friendships will require more than a profile on Facebook. But the social network provides new opportunities to spread God’s love. What begins as a casual connection could develop into a closer relationship. And that will in all likelihood move beyond the social network.