R.I.P. baby sister

Posted on: 11/18/13 3:01 AM | by Jonathan McKee

type“I just love being straight up ignored when ever I need you.”

It was the last thing she posted on her Facebook page. Then she went to her high school the next day and hung herself in the school bathroom.

That was last Friday.

Saturday, the day after this tragic suicide, I spoke at an event in the town where this occurred. Many of the youth workers knew kids from the school; they showed me this young lady’s Facebook page.

Some of the posts contained ‘text speak’ like “lawl sike” (basically saying, “just kidding”). But was she kidding? Continue reading “R.I.P. baby sister”

First Two Winners

Posted on: 11/11/13 9:00 AM | by Jonathan McKee

Facebook-LikeLast week I let you all in on a little contest we’re having this month where I reward you for connecting with me on my Facebook page (you can read all about how to win HERE). Well, last week I already randomly chose the first two winners. One was someone who had FRIENDED me… the other was someone who LIKED a bunch of my posts. As you know, each time you LIKE… your name goes into the hopper.

It doesn’t get much easier than that!

So congrats to David Barton and Matthew Erickson!

Still lots of prizes left, including Man of Steel on Blu-ray. So don’t forget to keep hitting LIKE when I post something that intrigues you!

November Give-aways

Posted on: 11/4/13 3:00 AM | by Jonathan McKee

Facebook-Like-ButtonIt’s this simple: connect with me on Facebook, and you’ll be entered to win one of 10 different prizes I’m giving away in November (like the new Man of Steel on Blu-ray/DVD).

Why now? After hiding for years, I just went public on Facebook. So FRIEND me… because I’m in a friending mood this November! Anyone who FRIENDS or FOLLOWS me on my personal Facebook account since this going public will be Continue reading “November Give-aways”

Teen Social Media Hookup Culture Unveiled

Posted on: 10/3/13 3:01 AM | by Jonathan McKee

My Twitter followers saw me link an article Tuesday morning I described as the most accurate article I’ve ever read about today’s social media hookup culture. It’s a day later, and I stand my ground.

Don’t misinterpret my words: I’m not saying the activities described in this article are what every kid is doing “on Facebook” (Omegle? Probably so), but I would say that I observe the ripple effect from this subculture rocking Continue reading “Teen Social Media Hookup Culture Unveiled”

SnapChat and the Ostrich Parent

Posted on: 09/5/13 3:27 AM | by Jonathan McKee

You’d think the recent news about SnapChat would be enough to finally convince parents to step in and hit the DELETE button, right?

So why is it 74 percent of parents are simply sticking their heads in the sand and just “hoping for the best”?

Most of us already knew this popular mobile app SnapChat was dangerous for young people. If you read my warnings about the app long ago, then you realized it was not only a convenient little tool for sexting, but it also provided teenagers with a false sense of “lack of accountability.” The pictures “vanish”… don’t they?

A recent lawsuit amongst the SnapChat creators has revealed Continue reading “SnapChat and the Ostrich Parent”

Time to Tweet

Posted on: 08/12/13 3:01 AM | by Jonathan McKee

One of the fun ways I enjoy keeping you current is through 140 characters or less! (Isn’t that brevity lovely!)

I’m speaking of Twitter, of course, and this month I’m rewarding you for following my Tweets with some fun contests, giveaways and resources.

My Twitter account is a vehicle I use to tell you about new resources, articles, funny anecdotes, and the newest trends and news in the youth-ministry/parenting world. For the rest of August, I’ll be rewarding those of you who decide to follow me and reTweet!

It’s this simple. I tweet something you like… you hit that nice little reTweet button and reTweet my Tweet. Each time you reTweet me, your name goes in the hopper to win. I’m giving away a book per week this month, a choice of any of my books, including my brand new Zombie Apocalypse Survival Guide for Teenagers which is shipping this week.

Happy reTweeting!!!

Smartphone Ownership Still Rising

Posted on: 06/13/13 3:01 AM | by Jonathan McKee

Every time a new report is released, the numbers have grown even bigger. The smartphone craze is still full throttle. Even 42% of American mobile subscribers over 55-years-old now own smartphones.

That’s a whole lot of mobile Facebooking!

A couple months ago I provided you with an update about the digital devices we own, how many of us own them, and the rapid rate in which this number is increasing. Well… those numbers are still growing. Here’s a glimpse, according to the most recent June updates from Nielsen:

  • 61% of moble subscribers in the U.S. owned a smartphone during the most recent three month period (March-May 2013)
  • 53% of smartphone owners used Android
  • 40% use iPhones (but Apple’s smartphone market grew 7% and Android only grew 2%)
  • Woman make up the majority of smartphone owners
  • 78% of Millennial subscribers aged 25-34 own them
  • 75% of Millennial subscribers aged 18-24 own them

So what are they doing on these phones? Nielsen’s June 10th report about mobile consumers reveals… Continue reading “Smartphone Ownership Still Rising”

From YOLO to FOMO

Posted on: 06/4/13 3:01 AM | by Jonathan McKee

“Let’s stay up all night Friday night!”

“Why not. YOLO!”

It’s a term young people have latched onto in the last year, expressing exactly what the acronym says, “You only live once.” But as popular as YOLO is (I’ve written about YOLO before), this attitude might not be quite as prominent as FOMO, the “Fear Of Missing Out.” Because, in today’s world of hyper-connection… no one wants to be the last one to know.

College Humor captured this phenomenon well in this hilarious YouTube video I’ll be showing to student leaders in my workshops about technology at the SLC2013 conventions.

We’ll probably be seeing more of these. A few other funny FOMO videos have surfaced already.

This phenomena goes beyond the desire for social interaction. Young people just want Continue reading “From YOLO to FOMO”

Should I Just Smash My Kid’s Phone?

Posted on: 05/13/13 3:01 AM | by Jonathan McKee

This week I’m teaching a brand new parenting workshop in an exciting new venue… we’re inviting parents and teenagers under one roof and opening up the doorways of dialogue.

The workshop is titled, “Should I Just SMASH my Kids Phone?” and it’s based off of the new workbook Doug Fields and I just wrote by the same title. The seminar equips parents to build lasting values and set boundaries that really work, teaching discernment along the way Continue reading “Should I Just Smash My Kid’s Phone?”

SmartPhone Safety Nets

Posted on: 05/7/13 3:01 AM | by Jonathan McKee

If your child accesses iTunes today and simply clicks on the music video charts, one of the top 10 videos features topless girls dancing… something anyone can see in the free preview of the video.

Sad, but true. Literally today.

(I know, I know. I can foresee it now. Someone is going to email me and tell me, “Jonathan, why are you telling us this! This will tempt us to click on it!” And to that I say, “In a world where anyone can jump on Google at anytime and type ‘naked girls’ and see just that in a matter of seconds… I’m not telling you anything new.”)

The question I want to raise is, “Have you set some guardrails to help your kids steer away from these kinds of temptations?”

Let me ask Continue reading “SmartPhone Safety Nets”