Day 21 of 40 Days to Passover and Resurrection Weekend... Disconnect!!!!

163 billion tweets since the dawn of Twitter.

The average Twitter user tweeted 307 times in 2013.

925,000 new users on Google+.

Google+ button used 5 million times per day.

Instagram has gained 50 million users since 2011.

The average Instagram user spent 257 minutes accessing photos via Instagram.

As of 2012, Facebook users have played 210,000 years of music, 62.6 million songs, about 22 billion times.

1.26 billion Facebook users as of 10/6/2013.

757 million Facebook daily active users.

97% of Pinterest users are women.

57% of Pinterest posts are food-related.

46 million monthly blog users on Blogger.

http://www.dazeinfo.com/2013/01/10/social-media-statistics-2013-facts-figures-facebook-twitter/

http://expandedramblings.com/index.php/by-the-numbers-17-amazing-facebook-stats/#.UzdmkBXD_IU

http://www.magnetsocialmedia.com/1/post/2013/02/15-blogger-statistics-2013.html

 First of all, the statics are staggering.  The number of people connected through social media is enough to make one pause and look at the costs and benefits of social media.  Please indulge me for a moment…

Social media reconnects old friends, provides a way for family living in different states to stay connected, provides a platform for people to share their interests and passions, creates a quasi-sense of community among users, and provides an avenue for businesses to promote their products and services.  While all of these are good, in moderation, social media also opens the door for negativity, self-comparison and a place for people to air their dirty laundry.

One thing the statistics, costs and benefits of social media have in common.  One rare commodity in society today is sucked up in social media.  One simple, yet precious, aspect of our lives that we miss once it is gone…

 

TIME.

It takes time to post a Facebook status, retweet a tweet, repin a pin, like a photo, and read (or write) a blog post.

It also takes time to build relationships with friends and family, rest our bodies and minds, and replenish our souls.

While social media is not entirely bad, we must decide what we want to invest our time in.  While it is good to stay connected to family and friends we seldom see in person, we must also make it priority to spend one on one time with those we live close to.  Maybe even send a handwritten note rather than a text of Facebook message.

So the challenge is this… take one day a week and commit to not engaging in social media.   The Sabbath is a great day to take the plunge.  Actually shabbat on the Sabbath… rest your body, mind and soul. 

And if you are convicted over the statistics, maybe reevaluate your daily time on social media and set a realistic limit for yourself.