Why We Need Mister Rogers on Social Media in 2019
Mister Rogers is, rightfully so, experiencing a bit of a curtain call. Although he died over 16 years ago, this last year has seen the release of his first biography (The Good Neighbor: The Life and Works of Fred Rogers), a documentary (Won’t You Be My Neighbor?), and a feature film releasing this Thanksgiving (A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood) starring Tom Hanks as Mister Rogers.
And, as a fan, this pleases me. After all, I think we can agree the greatest influencers (whether it’s a television program, an artist, or some other creator) have staying power. If someone or something is still relevant years after it ceases to produce, it has significance.
I propose that Mister Rogers is relevant as ever in this social media age.
Maxwell King, author of The Good Neighbor: The Life and Works of Fred Rogers, points out that Fred Rogers’ first exposure to a television set was in 1951. He tuned into children’s programming due to his strong interest in child development and education.
According to King, Fred thought what he saw was awful.
Rogers said, “I saw some people dressed in some kind of costumes, literally throwing pies in each other’s faces. I was astounded at that.”
Prior to Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, there were very few quality children’s programs on television. There were murmurs of concern over the impact violence encountered on television was having on children. Television was not thought to have any real educational value. In fact, according to King, the FCC’s chairman had described television as a “vast wasteland.”
Television didn’t start out as a vast wasteland. As Mister Rogers was getting his start in television, he first worked at NBC. His boss was a man named Sylvester “Pat” Weaver. Weaver, his staff, and the entire NBC network was devoted to delivering a high quality product in this new era of television. Weaver believed this medium had the ability to create culture, and that “it must be used to upgrade humanity across a broad base.”
Fred saw something else in this new medium of television. He saw potential. He saw power. He saw a new highway to enlighten and educate.
The characteristics of social media in the late 2010s are similar to the characteristics of television in the early 1950s. Social media has quickly been adopted by the masses. The rules for the medium are being written, but only in pencil. What seems to have had its beginnings with the good of mankind in mind has quickly spiraled into, what seems to me, the documented vast wasteland.
Like Mister Rogers, I feel we should be astounded at the crude baseline found in social media today.
It is one thing to be astounded by the crude content found on social media. But, like Fred Rogers, we must be inclined to to redeem that world for some sort of good. In what ways can we elevate the culture of social media? How can we “upgrade humanity” with what we post, tweet, or share? Is there a way we can take back these platforms with content that is valuable?
The ideas are abundant.
// Write an enlightened post you feel needs to be read.
// Share a bit of sage advice in a tweet.
// Create a fundraiser for a charitable cause and invite others to help push back the darkness.
// Organize a local service project and invite others to join you.
// Tell your personal story and encourage others along in their journey.
// Celebrate your city by highlighting the good you encounter.
// Engage your tribe online, but set up a night for drinks.
Mister Rogers, absorbing television for the first time in the early 1950s, was not thrilled with what he saw. However, he did not view the medium as a lost cause beyond hope. He harnessed his power, creativity, energy, influence, and love for children to create, and redeem, this young form of communication.
We must do the same today with social media.
How do you, or can you, redeem your use of social media for something positive in the world?
