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As Christians we are called to be like leaven in the world, including the world of social media. Though we might feel small and insignificant (really, what difference do my posts make?) how we individually show up in this space has the power to be transformative. Join Christians from around the world in making the #Rules_of_Engagement pledge and be part of changing the tenor of conversation on social media for the good.

See the List of those who have already publicly taken the pledge

1. I will engage social media with increasing intentionality, striving to communicate in ways that strengthen relationships and build up healthy community.
2. Before sharing a news story on social media, I will check to make sure it comes from a news source committed to sound journalistic standards. If there is a story that produces strong emotions for me, I will pause and check on its facticity before passing it on to others.
3. I will strive to become aware of how my own bias limits who I interact with and what I read. I will widen the circle of people and sources that I engage on social media in order to put myself in contact with a broader reality than the one of which I am currently aware.
4. In all my social media interactions I will remember that there is a real person behind whatever words and ideas are being put forth—a person who feels and struggles and has up and down days, just as I do. I will do everything I can to honor the human dignity of that person, even when I don’t agree with them or their behavior.
5. When I come across something that I disagree with on social media, I will take a moment of pause to consider what I want my response to be. If I choose to engage, I will lead with curiosity to understand the other’s stance better and see if there is something more for me to learn. If I choose to bring up a controversial topic myself, I will be open to conversation and learning more.
6. I will avoid posting intentionally inflammatory content on social media for the sake of the common good. If something that I post offends people, I’ll ask about the impact on them and take that into account in future choices about what to post. If something someone else posts offends me, I’ll ask about their intentions and name the impact on me.
7. I will use social media to develop and deepen relationships that matter to me, keeping before me the ideal of face-to-face time with one another. I will avoid using social media in ways that dissipate my time and energies leading to shallower communications across my life as a whole.
8. I will monitor my use of social media to make sure that the time I spend online makes sense for my own health and well-being, allowing for “the patterns of rest, silence and reflection that are necessary for healthy human development.”

The book will be out in February 2021, but why wait? You can take the pledge now by signing up below. Thanks for being willing to join the #Rules_of_Engagement community and commit to showing up your best self on social media!

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And if you see me out of line on social media, here is the emoji to put in my thread to let me know you are holding me accountable to the #Rules_of_Engagement. Be sure to include the # of the commitment you think I need to take a look at again. This emoji is called "Face Screaming in Fear"