My son, a YouTube superstar?

As some of you may know, my oldest child is a freshman at Auburn University. While I am thrilled that he is able to attend such a fine college, the 822 mile distance can sometimes take a toll on this mom. But that’s where technology helps. Occasionally, I log onto my instant messenger account and IM him if he’s online. Or I take advantage of our free Verizon to Verizon minutes and I call him. Or I log onto my Facebook account and wish him luck on an upcoming test or send him an encouraging Bible verse. It’s not uncommon for moms to wonder what their little munchkins are up to when they are away at college. Facebook has provided me a glimpse of what my son does in his free time. Just last week, I logged onto my Facebook account and had a message from my son to check out his new pictures. I clicked through to his page to find pictures of his dorm room filled with balloons, literally wall to wall and about 4 feet deep. Hmmm…. But nothing could prepare me for the morning I logged on to my account and saw in the “newsfeed” (an update of new actions taken on Facebook by your Facebook friends), that Ryan had posted a video clip to YouTube. Oh boy. For those of you who might be unfamiliar with YouTube, let me give you a quick history of the site.

YouTube (www.youtube.com), is a popular site where videos clips can be uploaded and accessed by the public. It had close to 900,000 viewers in November of 2005. A year later, it had increased to 25.5 million visitors in the month of November. Apparently, Google was impressed with the 2720% change in increased traffic and bought the homegrown video site for $1.7 billion. On YouTube, you will find video clips of everything imaginable including sermons clips from your favorite Christian ministers, music videos, graduation speeches, highlights from football games, bloopers, and homemade videos of every kind. Just as it is true for the Internet in general, you will see some who use it for good and some who use it for evil. For example, I recently received an email from a father of a girl on my daughter’s Varsity cheer squad. He had videotaped the out of town cheer competition and uploaded it to YouTube. With one click, I was able to view their routine on YouTube after having missed it live.

YouTube has provided an easy to use format to expose videos almost real-time to tens of millions of people. It has highlighted videos of screaming teachers in the classroom (taken from a student’s cell phone), fights on school buses and in back alleys, cops tasering suspects, and celebrities behaving badly. You might remember the story that hit the news concerning the racial tirade of comedian, Michael Richards (Seinfeld), during a comedy routine. The whole thing was filmed by someone in the audience and uploaded to YouTube the following day. A day after Britney Spears broke up with Kevin Federline by text message, you could view a video clip of Kevin receiving the actual text message while sitting at a table in a restaurant. Anything is fair game on YouTube. Including my son and three of his friends impersonating the Backstreet Boys, a popular boy band from the ‘90’s. News of the posted video clip spread through Facebook via their friend lists and within three weeks, the video had been viewed over 1300 times. Now, stop for a minute and think about that. What business or ministry would not want to spread their message to a captive audience of 1300 hundred people in a three week period?!!

As digital cameras, camera phones, and the ability to take streaming video becomes a common mainstay among our teens, the trend toward user-generated content will become the norm in our culture. Let me explain what I mean by “user-generated content.” In essence, technology has provided the average user (me, you, our children, etc…) the ability to generate content through blogs, video-sharing, and online picture albums to an audience of multi-millions. The average person now has the ability to be a publisher, journalist, photographer, producer, and even star of their own show. There are no bounds to creativity and no longer is it necessary to spend big bucks to reach an audience. What we are witnessing today is a shift from mass communications driven media to people-generated media. The power is truly with the people. Or for that matter, four darling college boys from Auburn University.

I realize that buzz words like MySpace, Facebook, and YouTube can leave many parents short of breath and filled with a fear of the unknown. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Technology in and of itself is not evil. Sure, we need to draw boundaries and go over safety tips with our children, but can we also have some fun with it, along the way? There is much to be gained from technology and it’s time for parents to get past the fear phase and jump in and get their feet wet. I for one, am glad I did. It has certainly helped bridge the 822 mile gap from Auburn, Alabama to Austin,Texas. Now, I don’t have to wonder if he got a haircut (the video is proof he hasn't), keeps his dorm room clean (I can't tell under the balloons), clips his toenails (don’t want to know), or studies (occasionally?). Clearly, there are much more important things on his mind. He informed me yesterday that he and his friends are trying to decide what song they will perform next for their budding YouTube fan base. I will keep you posted. In the meantime, turn your sound up and enjoy his performance. And for the record, he’s the cute curly-headed boy in the red shirt.

5 Bible lessons every girl can learn from Britney

1. Money doesn’t buy happiness.

Jimmy Choo designer handbags and Manolo stilettos. Private jets and Malibu mansions with granite countertops, travertine tile floors, and sweeping views of ocean sunsets. And let’s not forget that pint-size pocket pup with more clothes, shoes, and accessories than the average American. The never-ending list of assets was apparently not enough to quell that empty place in her heart that longs for something money can’t buy. Only Christ can fill that void and until she finds Him, her life will continue to be an infomercial for misery.

Those who love money will never have enough. How absurd to think that wealth brings true happiness! (Eccl. 5:10)

2. If you party hard today, you might find yourself in rehab tomorrow.

Drinking until you vomit. Experimenting with recreational drugs. Late-night clubbing. Passing out at parties. Waking up next to strangers and wondering what you did the night before. Fifty-five hour marriages. Sound fun? I think not. And you just never know if you will end up being among the 15 million Americans who reportedly have substance abuse problems. Forget all those public service announcements to ward off drinking and drugs—just keep the cameras on Britney and her Hollywood posse as they participate in the never-ending rehab relay. If that’s not a deterrence, I don’t know what is. And for the record, rehab for the common folk does not include gourmet meals, spa treatments, and a private room. ☺

Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, let the Holy Spirit fill and control you. (Eph. 5:18)

3. If you market your body as an object, don’t be surprised if you’re treated as an object.

Dress like a hooker, dance like a stripper, and boys will hang your poster on their walls. Sex sells. That is, until you have two babies and no longer look like a sex object. When you’re loved for your body rather than your mind, expect the love to decrease when the pounds increase. Perhaps her meltdown was due in part to the sad realization that her fans view her as a property rather than a person. No wonder the poor girl shaved her head bald and said she didn’t want anyone touching her.

Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. (Prov. 31:30)

4. If you behave like a slut, you will be labeled a slut.

Don’t be surprised if Britney’s PR reps pull a similar stunt to Miss USA’s reps. When Miss USA emerged from rehab, she posed for a photo shoot dressed modestly, sitting Indian style and clutching a teddy bear in her lap. Give me a break. Joseph Hall, a well-known English Bishop from the 16th century once said, “A reputation once broken may possibly be repaired, but the world will always keep their eyes on the spot where the crack was.” If we hear Tara Conner’s name mentioned ten years from now, we aren’t going to think, “Oh, was she that cute Miss USA with the turtleneck sweater and the teddy bear?” No, we are going to think, “Oh, was she the cokehead that partied hard in New York City and made out with Miss Teen USA?” Post-rehab Britney may make a comeback, but she will always be remembered for her anything but virtuous behavior.

"A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches." (Prov. 22:1)

5. You are who you hang out with.

Lindsay Lohan. Paris Hilton. Enough said. All have been inducted into the Girls Gone Wild Hall of Fame. Benjamin Franklin once said, “He who lies down with the dogs, shall rise up with fleas.” I’m not sure who was the original flea-infested dog in this case, but it doesn’t matter. They’ve all been bitten by the bug. Learn from these girls and choose your friends wisely. Whether it’s Hollywood or your hometown, be on guard—mangy dogs are everywhere.

“Bad company corrupts good character.” (1 Cor. 15:33)


So, there you have it. Some of my comments may sound harsh, but the goal is to get girls thinking about the fallout that comes with living a life apart from Christ. About six years ago, I surveyed girls and asked them who they would want to be if they could be anyone in the world. Britney Spears was the top answer. And why not? Who wouldn't want to be recognized by their first name alone? That was then and this is now. If I surveyed girls and asked them the same question today, I seriously doubt a single one would want to be Britney. I’m not even sure Britney wants to be Britney. She would probably give anything to go back to her more innocent days of singing in the choir of her Baptist church. Let’s keep the poor girl in our prayers.