Trends

Thanks to Ivy Jungle:

Facebook Admissions: 10% of admissions counselors at competitive colleges say they have looked at Facebook and other social networking sites to evaluate applicants. The survey, reported in the Wall Street Journal, indicated that most of the time reviews of student profiles "negatively affected" their application. (Inside Higher Ed September 18, 2008)

Didn't We Meet on Facebook: These days, two freshmen roommates shaking hands and introducing themselves for the first time has become a very strange site. Virtually all students arrive on campus not only having met their roommates, but perhaps dozens of other new friends thanks to Facebook. Students quickly join their "class group" and find other affinity groups from their campus. Many say it has created a different kind of awkward meeting when many have begun friendships online and meet for the first time saying, "Hi, we met on Facebook . . .". While some students have become concerned about roommates based on their profiles, even more alarming these days would be a potential roommate not on Facebook. (St. Louis Post Dispatch Online August 28, 2008)

The Facebook Effect: Researchers believe that today's teens are becoming sexually bolder because of social networking sites like Facebook, Myspace and Bebo. Information about sex and discussions about sex are much more prevalent in their virtual worlds. Many teens say that they believe the sexually active characters they see on TV accurately reflect teens today. However, they also they resent that older generations view them as promiscuous and obsessed with sex. Some experts say that the good thing is more teens are learning and asking questions about sex. However, they do fear that many lack the maturity to weigh the sources and discern what is appropriate or inappropriate behavior and levels of intimacy, especially in the semi-public environment of social networking sites. (Telegraph.co.uk August 27, 2008)

21^st Birthday Drinking: It is no surprise the many college students consume a drink or two on their 21^st birthdays. However, a recent study by the University of Texas-Austin indicates that most students drink quite heavily on that day, with men consuming an average of 12 drinks and women an average of 9. More than of students say they experienced ill effects the next day including hangovers (54%); blackouts (44%) and sex they did not remember (22%). Nearly 40% say they were unsure how they got home that night. A similar study by the University of Missouri found that just over 1/3 of men and almost of women reported consuming 21 drinks on their 21^st birthday. The UT study examined behaviors in the 2 weeks before and after the 21^st birthday, finding that quantity of drinking decreases after turning 21, but frequency increases. (USA Today August 27, 2008)

Giving in the US: According to Barna, the percentage of income Christians give to ministry work has declined for the last 35 years. Across the US, people currently give less than 3% of their income to charitable causes, a rate below that of charitable gifts during the Depression. Only 5% of Christians tithe. (Mission America Coalition Update September 2008)

Guys Trying to Figure Out How to Act: Behavioral researchers have said that many young men seem confused on what it means to become a man. A generation ago, masculinity had clearer parameters and men and women had clearer roles. However, today, many young men are unsure how to act. Labels like "mook" and "slacker" are often used to describe a generation that spends much of their time with video games and has little motivation. They seem to have a difficult time navigating adulthood and issues of sex, drinking, friendships, and the future. A number of books including Boys Adrift (Sax); Guyland (Kimmel); and Buddy System (Greif) all point to the importance of relationships with parents and male friends for guys as they move into adulthood. (USA Today August 25, 2008)

Struggling with Morality: A Barna research study shows that adults under the age of 25 struggle with morality much more than their older counterparts. The poll looked at eight behaviors including the use of profanity in public, gambling, gossiping, sexual intercourse with someone other than their spouse, viewing pornography, acts of retaliation, getting drunk and lying. In each category, younger adults were more than twice as likely to have engaged in these behaviors. The most common behavior for both groups was profanity, followed by sex, lying, and pornography (not in that order for older adults). Politically liberal people were also more likely to have engaged in these immoral behaviors than their conservative peers. Among evangelicals, profanity and pornography were the most common transgressions. Agnostics and skeptics were five times as likely to have engaged in any of the behaviors as evangelicals. Researchers believe the results show that the moral code has begun to shift considerably in areas of honesty, language and sex. (Barna Update August 25, 2008)

Graduate Student Auctions Off Virginity: In a new low for morals and capitalism, a 22 year old graduate student at Sacramento State has joined with a legal Nevada brothel to auction off her virginity. The young woman says she can verify her purity and is selling her first experience to finance her graduate education in marriage and family therapy. Holding an undergraduate degree in women's studies she believes her actions are empowering to her as a woman and that her virginity is marketable because it is a rare commodity. Several students have expressed support, especially for a cause as noble as paying for school. (CBS13.com September 11, 2008)