Tether – Digital Ventures to Help People Engage with Each Other
Tether is an online platform that is intended to help Christians connect and engage with other believers in their area. Originally created as a personal app for individuals to be reminded to pray for others and reach out, Tether eventually formed into an LMS system used by Churches to help train and connect those within their church. Through Tether, churches and ministries can deliver content to their church members, track development, and measure impact.
I was intrigued by Tether because it is a digital platform that is especially made to encourage non-digital interaction. When our class addressed finding problems that we recognized in society, one problem that seemed to be important to the class was the effect of social media specifically on Gen-Z, specifically women in Gen-Z. Social media, despite being originally intended to foster connection has actually fostered isolation with many valuing online interaction more than genuine interaction.
In an Andy Crouch podcast talking specifically about the dangers of “the algorithm”, he specifically mentioned the impact of social media on mental health. He drew from the example of a kid sitting in their bedroom feeling lonely, depressed, suicidal. For many in Gen-Z who experience these mental health struggles, they look first to text their friends or interact with people online, confiding in people who are in reality far away from them and never leaving their room. Before the development of constant online interaction, kids feeling depressed and lonely, looking for interaction, would have to leave their bedrooms and talk to their older siblings or their parents. Real life interaction with family and people close to you is then replaced by online interaction with people who cannot do anything concrete to help you.
Tether is inspiring because it is an online platform that in no way intends to stay online. Rather, online interaction through Tether can help you genuinely interact with actually believers who live locally to you.
https://www.tetherlms.com/