What are the dangers of using the Internet to associate with someone we do not know?

[JWTalk]

July 2007 Our Kingdom Ministry – Question Box

What are the dangers of using the Internet to associate with someone we do not know?

A number of Web sites have been designed for people to meet and correspond over the Internet. Many of these sites allow individuals to create and post their own profile, which may include pictures and other personal information. People who view the profile can then make contact. Such Web sites are very popular among young people, and some youths in the congregation have used them to interact with others who claim to be Jehovah’s Witnesses.

It is easy for a person whom we meet over the Internet to be deceptive about his identity, his spirituality, or his motives. (Ps. 26:4) An individual claiming to be one of Jehovah’s Witnesses may actually be an unbeliever, a disfellowshipped person, or even an active apostate. (Gal. 2:4) Reportedly, many pedophiles use such Web sites to find their victims.

Even if we are convinced that those with whom we are corresponding are in good standing in the congregation, conversations in such a setting can easily drift toward unwholesome material. This is because people tend to be less inhibited with individuals they have not met personally. They may also view online communication as private and feel that whatever they say will not come to the attention of others, such as their parents or the elders. Sadly, a number of youths from Christian households have been ensnared and have become involved in obscene speech. (Eph. 5:3, 4; Col. 3:8) Others have included sexually provocative pictures of themselves, suggestive nicknames, or links to sexually explicit music videos in their computer profile.

In view of the foregoing, parents should monitor their children’s activity on the computer. (Prov. 29:15) It would be dangerous to invite a stranger into our home or to allow him to be alone with our children. Similarly, it is dangerous for us or our children to make friends with strangers over the Internet, even if they claim to be Jehovah’s Witnesses.—Prov. 22:3.

[Elizabeth Alvarez]

How can it be proven this is a legit site and not apostate or other harmful entities.

[Lance]

Elizabeth

Only one site is "approved" and that is JW.org.

The branch knows of our existence, and we have complied with any request that they have made to the brothers managing this site. 

 

How can you know if the person sitting next to you at convention or assembly is a "legit" Jehovah's Witness.... mostly by talking with them... are they speaking the pure language? Is their conduct something a lover Jehovah would demonstrate? Are there any warning signs?

 

So wander around this site if anything doesn't meet the pure language test please contact the moderators, and if you are still nervous  and for the sake of your conscience then if I were you I would leave, we would hate to stumble any of the little sheep.

I have been on this site for many years and have visited many brothers and sisters on this site in their own congregations and got to meet their friends and family, so far I have only met lovers of Jehovah and his organization. If we do find anyone on this site that does not meet the standard expected by a Jehovah's Witness we remove their membership immediately. 

There are many sites that try to cater to Jehovah's Witnesses, many have no respect for the Governing Body or the brotherhood....You will not find that here... The moderators around the world try very, very hard to keep this site, a safe and upbuilding site  for any lover of Jehovah.

 

We hope you stay, but if not, that is ok too.

Lance

 

[Mike047]

Elizabeth, you are right to be very careful about using any internet site, and especially one that encourages participation between brothers and sisters. We are all very much more aware of the issues, today, with 'deep fake imagery' and misleading information everywhere. We know the ultimate source of all such, as being the one spoken of at Rev 12:9, where it says of him that he is "the one called Devil and Satan, who is misleading the entire inhabited earth". Our brothers overseeing this chat site, put in many hours to ensure a fine quality of interchange, and we all appreciate that.

 

I have discovered there are also limits on how the site may be used, and what is encouraged. As I understand it:

 

* This site does not offer dating facilities

* This site does not support the exchange of personal details, unless done privately and by agreement

* The site does not allow bad-mouthing of others, whether brothers and sisters or other people

* This site does not support political comment

* This site does provide for healthy exchange of thoughts and ideas

* This site is not an Ebay type facility for selling things

 

A number of the bothers and sisters using this site suffer from physical, emotional, mental or sometimes even spiritual problems, and find that interaction with others is very helpful. I am a relative newbie, myself, but hope that any contribution made by me is encouraging.

 

I am sure that you will find encouragement here, and will be invited to give it, too. 

Edited December 31, 2024 by Mike047

[Sheep]

Thank you, @Elizabeth Alvarez, for your thoughts in your very first post here! Welcome to JWTalk!

 

I had the same misgivings when I first became a member on the site. Unfortunately none of us here can give you a quick answer to your question that will instantly make all your anxieties disappear. Besides the thoughts already expressed above, the only thing I can add is that time will provide a more definitive answer. Your own experience here will gradually answer your query. Perhaps I can help out with some of my own experiences.

 

Brother Lance, who commented above, is for certain a real, non-apostate, brother! It was only recently that I found out that he is the uncle of our Circuit Overseer's wife! Even though the two of them are on almost opposite sides of Canada, they are indeed related. Just two weeks ago we had our CO's visit and I could speak face-to-face with Lance's niece and get to know her a bit better!

 

I might add, Lance is one of the moderators here, and is almost solely responsible for allowing you and all other new members onto the site! He is the "door guy," as he used to call himself, and reviews all the applications of new members here. Well, several years back, Lance wrote a PM (private message) to me about a "sister" that was applying for membership, but said that something in her application didn't add up. She mentioned in her application that she belonged to a congregation here in Montreal, which happens to be the same congregation I was in at the time. Lance asked if I knew her. I did not! I think you get the picture; that "sister" is not a member on this site. (Later I found out that her "friends" list on Facebook was filled with known apostates...)

 

Other than that, reading each member's comments in the forums will tell you a little about that member's spirituality. Like getting to know someone personally, it takes time to get to know the various members here and their backgrounds, goals, and spiritual standing in their congregation. It's not instant, but is an ongoing experience and requires patience.

 

Granted, there are some whom I have "met" on the forums here who have purposely left the site, even after spending some time here and participating. Some of them left because they heard a talk that they say seemed to be directed specifically to them! They heard some counsel about associations on the Internet, concluded that it applied to themselves, and followed their conscience and made a decision to leave. That is their choice, and we respect that. We hope that you, too, will take some time to get to know us first, and then follow whatever your conscience is telling you. We wish you the very best.

Edited December 31, 2024 by Sheep

[Eejay]

On 12/28/2024 at 8:14 PM, Elizabeth Alvarez said:

How can it be proven this is a legit site and not apostate or other harmful entities.

Along with other comments made, if you feel there are posters or postings here you don't feel comfortable with, you can report them or you can choose to ignore them and their posts under settings.

 

But best of all, the moderators here.......moderate! And they endeavour to do so theocratically, and that is a rare thing on ANY forum! So I hope you will be able to enjoy the unique and international perspective this site gives. 😊

[Jim Jam]

On 12/28/2024 at 9:14 PM, Elizabeth Alvarez said:

How can it be proven this is a legit site and not apostate or other harmful entities.

 

You are welcome to look around the forum and judge for yourself, that is the wisest course

Edited January 5, 2025 by Jwanon

[Qapla]

In addition to what the others have already said ... if you would like to chat face-to-face you could try joining one of my Zoom chats. They are not "meetings", they are informal chats for talking and getting to know one another.

 

You can check the forum calendar, "Upcoming Events" on the home page (scroll down till you find it) or check the Let's All Meet on Zoom thread

 

One is scheduled for Monday at 9PM Eastern/8PM Central/7PM Mountain/6 PM Pacific

 

[grain of mustard]

If there were a mechanism or at least a sub-entry for brothers from the same country or region, perhaps this would provide more security for the members. I would like to know more about who are the brothers from Brazil, their regions or congregations that are here in this forum.  

[Qapla]

You can always start a thread asking who is from Brazil - any who would like to tell you could respond. It would be up to them how much information about where they live and what congregation they attend that they would like to disclose on a public forum.

 

[SteveAus]

Just keep in mind, this forum, like every other site on the internet, can or could be monitored by government agencies. So you need to be mindful of this when sharing information. Might all be innocent now, but after the GT, this info could be used against us.

Note, MOO

[dljbsp]

Even this conversation isn’t truly private—searchable on Google, in fact. That alone should remind us how careful we need to be online. Just because someone’s in a “spiritual” forum doesn’t mean we really know who they are, or what they’re about. The internet never forgets, and we may not always realize who’s listening in.

 

It’s not fear—it’s just being shrewd. Proverbs 22:3 puts it plainly: “The shrewd one sees the danger and conceals himself.” That applies online just as much as it does in real life. I’ve found that the more open the platform, the more guarded I need to be.

 

Let’s keep encouraging each other, but with both eyes open. Our loyalty to Jehovah includes being cautious with how—and with whom—we associate, especially when we can’t truly verify who’s on the other side of the screen.

[grain of mustard]

Until recently, I enjoyed sharing spiritual topics or gems in my congregation's group. But now I've decided to stop posting. The organization doesn't make exceptions, and some of our brothers in the congregation don't look favorably on Jehovah's Witness forums, precisely because of the dangers the internet poses. So, although many here are spiritual Christians, in the eyes of other brothers who aren't on the forum, we're frowned upon. We really need to be balanced in our use of this forum and considerate of those brothers who don't approve of any type of social media for sharing spiritual topics. This is something I'm learning to deal with, with Jehovah's help. Sometimes I wonder who here on this forum is a wolf in sheep's clothing. There probably is. We can't be too careful; whether we like it or not, we're taking risks. Sometimes, it may happen that a user isn't a wolf in disguise, but ends up spreading opinions or thoughts that lead other brothers and sisters to stray from the path of holiness. I myself recognize that I need to improve on this point. I have been praying more to Jehovah to help me be more careful about what I say and how I speak to my brothers.  

[Lance]

This whole concept really falls on to a matter of conscience... and respecting boundaries.

Romans 14:19-22

19  So, then, let us pursue the things making for peace+ and the things that build one another up.+ 20  Stop tearing down the work of God just for the sake of food.+ True, all things are clean, but it is detrimental for* a man to eat when it will cause stumbling.+ 21  It is best not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything over which your brother stumbles.+ 22  The faith that you have, keep it to yourself before God. Happy is the man who does not judge himself by what he approves. 

 

A couple of points.

1.The gentle approach to differing views...pursue peace.

2. Boundaries... not every thought or belief has to be shared with everyone.

3. Stumbling blocks. Even if your conscience is clear, flaunting your freedom can harm someone else's faith.

 

[sis little]

Well take it from me, it is very dangerous, you never know what they want nor who they are. Most of them use fake names, well someone else name, As a sister and one that has had personal experience, I wouldn't do it.

 

AGAPE

[Barbllm]

On 12/28/2024 at 3:14 PM, Elizabeth Alvarez said:

How can it be proven this is a legit site and not apostate or other harmful entities.

I've been using the Internet for a long time and there is no litmus test for any website (other than JW.ORG). It is purely a matter of conscience. That said, there is also no litmus test for people we know in the congregation; everyone is at different levels when it comes to Christian maturity. I know that in the past I have been unpleasantly surprised by announcement of those being removed from the congregation because, for all appearances, they seemed to be doing well spiritually. But they clearly weren't. 

 

I'm perfectly aware some people consider themselves "PIMO" (physically in, mentally out) when it comes to the organization and that is entirely on them. Developing faith and love for Jehovah takes time and they just didn't do it or they allowed doubts to creep in and take over. 

 

I haven't seen anything on this site that would lead me to believe that apostates are here. 

[LeolaRootStew]

I have personally witnessed "suspicious characters" join the chat, make unusual statements, get flagged by the moderators and eventually removed. It's not that there will never be problems here, it's that I know they will be handled when they arise.

 

If you ever come across a post that makes you uncomfortable, just click the dots in the upper-right hand corner of the post and report it. We all contribute to making this a spiritually uplifting space.

[Lance]

One of the most beautiful things about this forum is that no matter where in the world we come from, we share a language deeper than grammar, culture, or technology. Whether some dear brother or sister writes in perfect English, uses Google Translate, or leans on an AI tool to tidy up their sentences, the same unmistakable “pure language”  shines through, the sincere desire to draw closer to Jehovah and to encourage one another.

Each month, hundreds of new brothers and sisters join us. Nearly all of them fit naturally into the spirit of this place. Only a very small number like one a month, ever need to be told that this forum isn’t a good fit for them. Just as in the early Christian congregation there have been some “who were not of our sort” .Most potential problems never make it past the front door, because the purpose of this community is clear and simple.

We are not a dating site.
We are not a business platform.
We do not engage in financial dealings.
We never ask for money…and if someone chooses to donate, that is entirely their personal decision.

We respect and apply to the best of our ability the direction of the Faithful and Discreet Slave.

This is a space to share your perspective on your relationship with Jehovah, your experiences in the congregation, and the spiritual journey we are all walking. It is a place for encouragement, reflection, and genuine connection…nothing more complicated than that, and nothing less meaningful.

Many other sites have come and gone over the years, but because of you, this formula and direction still seems to be working for what it is intended. We thank everyone for keeping this site safe.

 

Edited yesterday at 01:31 AM by Lance

[Mike047]

Well put Lance!