Church of God in Christ Mennonite's Spring 2023 Technology Committee Report.

1. Technology Committee
Church of God in Christ, Mennonite
April 2023
Social Media Overview Spring 2023
Christian greetings to the brethren:
The following letter is to present an overview of social media, its current usage and
practice, and our concerns regarding the proper use and also the misuse of social
media. We encourage our leaders and parents to familiarize themselves with the
current realities of social media.
We are hesitant to rate social media sites, or apps, as good or bad and the
following list is not necessarily meant as an approval of some apps or disapproval
of others. Things do change over time, and what we feel is bad today could at
some point become a better option than a platform we consider safe at present.
On the other hand, what seems like a relatively safe option today could become a
greater danger in the future. We must have proper spiritual discernment.
Another point we are concerned about is misuse. Even apps that are quite safe
can become a snare when they are used as a tool to satisfy a carnal spirit. The
basis of the concern about technology is separation from the world. Social media
is an avenue the world can use to bring its influence right into our homes and
hearts.
The following is not an exhaustive listing of social media platforms, but it does
include many that are popular today. This is simply meant to share information on
what some of the main differences are so parents and leaders can be better
informed about the options as we look out for those whom we are responsible for.
May the Holy Spirit be our guide.

2. Technology Committee
Church of God in Christ, Mennonite
April 2023
Telegram, Snapchat, Twitter, TikTok, Instagram, Reddit
• These apps/platforms present such dangers that it would be best to avoid
them.
• The purpose and usage of these would be contrary to Christian doctrine.
• These apps are blocked by CloudVeil by default, and in agreement with
CloudVeil policy, are rarely unblocked.
• These apps would have little or no legitimate use and the legitimate uses
would be fulfilled in other safer platforms.
YouTube, Facebook, Pinterest
• These applications have some dangerous aspects, but with caution are often
used safely.
• They have many beneficial uses in today’s electronic society, however, the need
for them is not as broad as the apps in green.
• In view of these considerations, CloudVeil blocks these apps by default, but
they can be unblocked via request.
• Those who have a legitimate need for these apps should consider using them
via relaxed policy through CloudVeil filters or with time restrictions set.
• These apps also usually have settings that can be adjusted to help eliminate
some of the dangers, but these settings cannot be locked down.
CloudVeil Messenger, WhatsApp, and similar messenging apps
• These applications can present certain dangers, but they are typically used
safely.
• They are commonly accepted and used among us and generally have not
caused serious issues. Rather, their usage has been of an overall benefit.
• These apps are unblocked by default by CloudVeil.
Apps that should remain blocked.
Apps that could cautiously be used.
Apps that are relatively safe.

3. Technology Committee
Church of God in Christ, Mennonite
April 2023
Following is a list of the most popular social media platforms along with brief
descriptions to help you understand their purpose and the dangers that may be
associated with each app. They are not listed in any particular order.
Description: CloudVeil Messenger is designed to be a
safe, simple messaging app built on the Telegram platform
for voice messages, text messages, and file sharing. It is
not intended to be a social media, news, or entertainment
platform.
CloudVeil Messenger does not have a global search
function. Public groups, public channels and bots are
blocked by default and unblocked only on request. This
limits the availability of groups and channels containing adult content.
Description: YouTube is a video-sharing platform that
allows users to upload, view, and share videos. On
YouTube, users can upload and watch videos on a wide
range of topics, including music, comedy, education,
news, and more. Users can also subscribe to channels to stay up-to-date on their
favorite creators, and can like and comment on videos to interact with other
users.
YouTube is popular among creators, who use the platform to share their content
with a wide audience and build their following. Many businesses also use
YouTube for marketing and advertising, as well as to create video content to
promote their products and services.
YouTube’s algorithms offer a continuous supply of “up next” videos to capture the
users attention and keep them engaged with content of interest to the user.
YouTube’s terms of service prohibit pornographic content, but suggestive content
and nudity can be found.

4. Technology Committee
Church of God in Christ, Mennonite
April 2023
Description: Pinterest is a social media platform that
allows users to discover and save ideas for various
projects and interests. On Pinterest, users create virtual
pinboards by "pinning" images and videos to them. These
pins can be organized by theme or category, and users
can also create and share collaborative boards with others. The platform offers a
visual search function that allows users to find related content by clicking on an
image or searching for keywords.
Pinterest is popular for DIY projects, home decor, fashion, cooking, and more.
Many businesses use the platform to showcase their products and services, and
users can also shop directly from the platform by clicking on pins with purchase
links.
Pinterest’s algorithms try to determine a user’s interest and supply a stream of
suggestions to capture the user’s attention and keep them engaged. TikTok
videos have recently become popular in Pinterest.
Pinterest’s terms of service prohibit pornographic content but allow for some
nudity in non-pornographic contexts.
Description: Facebook is a social networking platform
that allows users to connect with friends, family, and
other people around the world. On Facebook, users can
create a profile, add friends, and share photos, videos, and updates with their
network. Users can also join groups and participate in discussions on a wide
range of topics, as well as like and comment on posts from their friends and other
users.
Facebook also offers various features, such as Facebook Messenger, which is
a standalone messaging app, and Facebook Marketplace, which allows users
to buy and sell items with others in their community. The platform also offers
advertising tools for businesses, allowing them to create targeted ads and reach
a wider audience.
Facebook’s content guidelines prohibit pornographic content, but allow for some
nudity in non-pornographic contexts. Like most platforms open to public
contribution, some pornographic content does get posted in groups or comment
sections and may be viewed before it is removed by moderators.

5. Technology Committee
Church of God in Christ, Mennonite
April 2023
Description: Instagram is a social media platform
that allows users to share photos and videos, as
well as connect with friends, family, and other
users around the world.
On Instagram, users can share photos and videos with their followers, and can
also add filters, captions, and tags to their posts. They can follow other users and
see their posts in their feed, and can also discover new content through hashtags
and the Explore page. Instagram also offers various features, such as Stories,
Reels, and IGTV, which allow users to share short-form video content.
Instagram is popular among influencers, celebrities, and businesses, who use
the platform to share content and reach a wider audience. Businesses also use
Instagram for marketing and advertising, as well as to sell products directly
through the app.
Instagram’s community guidelines prohibit pornographic content, but moderation
is challenging. Some “influencers” use Instagram and other social media sites to
share provocative images intended to drive users to their OnlyFans account.
Description: Snapchat is a social media app that allows
users to send and receive photos, videos, and
messages that disappear after they have been viewed.
On Snapchat, users can send "snaps" to their friends, which can include photos
or short videos with filters, stickers, and other effects. Users can also add text
captions and draw on their snaps before sending them. Snaps can be sent
directly to a friend or added to a user's "story," which is a public collection of
snaps that can be viewed by all of the user's friends for 24 hours. Due to its
photocentric approach, the app opens immediately to the camera.
SnapChat recently shut down the Zenly location sharing app and suggested
Zenly users migrate to SnapChat for location sharing with friends.

6. Technology Committee
Church of God in Christ, Mennonite
April 2023
Description: Twitter is a social media site centered
around “tweeting” thoughts, opinions and other short
snippets of information. Users can follow other users to
see their tweets in their timeline and can also "retweet"
or share other users' tweets with their own followers.
Users can also like and reply to tweets to interact with
other users on the platform. Twitter also offers various
features, such as hashtags, which allow users to categorize their tweets and
make them easier to find, and trending topics, which show popular topics being
discussed on the platform.
Twitter is popular among celebrities, politicians, and journalists, who use the
platform to share their thoughts and opinions with their followers, as well as to
engage with other users. Many businesses also use Twitter for marketing and
customer service, as well as to promote their products and services.
Businesses and government organizations use Twitter to share information
about such as school or road closings.
Twitter’s content policy allows some pornography, making porn more rampant on
Twitter than other platforms whose policies don’t allow it.
Description: TikTok is a social media platform that allows users
to create and share short-form videos, typically ranging from 15
to 60 seconds in length.
On TikTok, users can browse a "For You" page, which features
videos that the app's algorithm has determined the user may be
interested in, based on their past behavior on the platform.
Users can also follow other users, like and comment on videos,
and share videos on their own profiles or with other users. The app offers a
variety of video editing tools, such as filters, music, and effects, which users can
use to create unique and engaging content.
TikTok is popular among younger generations, with a large percentage of its user
base being under the age of 30. The platform has been used by influencers,
celebrities, and businesses, who use the platform to share content and reach a
wider audience.
Much of the content is entertainment based, although there is some how-to
content as well as much political, religious, and sensual content. While TikTok’s
community guidelines prohibit nudity & pornography, there is much provocative
content, sometimes linking to OnlyFans or other pornographic sites.

7. Technology Committee
Church of God in Christ, Mennonite
April 2023
Description: Telegram is a popular messaging
platform. Telegram users can share all kinds of media
with other users, in private or public groups, or
channels. Bots can be used to automatically retrieve content from other sites or
services such as YouTube videos or music.
Telegram is used heavily in censored countries and has become popular for
news channels, discussion groups, & media consumption. The global search
feature allows users to quickly search and find almost any user, group, or
channel. Much content and media from other social media sites is available in
Telegram through bots and public chat groups.
Telegram’s terms of service prohibit “illegal pornographic content”. Adult and
pornographic content is available and easily accessible in Telegram.
Description: Reddit is a social news and
discussion platform that allows users to share
content, ask questions, and participate in
discussions on a wide range of topics. Users can
submit links, text posts, images, and videos to
specific communities, called "subreddits," that are dedicated to particular topics,
such as news, science, music, gaming, and more.
Reddit's content is moderated by a combination of automated systems and
volunteer moderators, who enforce community-specific rules and guidelines.
Users can vote on posts and comments, with upvotes increasing visibility and
downvotes decreasing visibility.
Reddit has a large NSFW (not safe for work) section that allows adult and
pornographic content. On some platforms, Reddit requires the user to sign in,
confirm their age and agree to see NSFW content.

8. Technology Committee
Church of God in Christ, Mennonite
April 2023
In summary, social media is a tool that can have both positive and negative effects
on the Christian. It facilitates communication and mission work. It is a useful tool
in spreading the Gospel and encouraging one another in the Christian walk. It has
legitimate business uses, not only for communication, but also for advertising, job
scheduling, training, and research.
On the other hand, the dangers are also very real. Social media can provide easy
access to immoral and unchristian content. Overuse of social media reduces the
desire for spiritual things. Social media will never be able to fully replace the
fellowship of being in the physical presence of the brethren, but some would use it
as a substitute for that. It wastes time and can be detrimental to mental health
when used as an escape from real life. Social media algorithms that feed content
to their users tend to create an “echo chamber” or “info bubble” that only presents
one ideology and so lead to unbalanced views in areas such as medicine and
politics. This can lead to divisions among the brotherhood.
In our recent conference, many brethren confessed being disobedient to the Holy
Spirit in the area of photography. Have we also been disobedient in our usage of
social media? If we as the people of God are to successfully navigate our way
through the legitimate and illegitimate usages of social media, we will need to be
very keen to the Holy Spirit, not only in listening, but in obeying. May God bless us
with wisdom and willingness to follow His leading.
The Technology Committee