In Exodus, the Hebrew nation spent 40 years wandering through the wilderness. In the Gospels, Jesus journeyed 40 days in the desert. At present-day Ball State, students are traversing 40 days without Facebook. In today's standards, these may even out to the same level of isolation.
Roommates Bailey Shannon and Myrtes Moore have made a pact to forgo Facebook for Lent. The night before the first day of Lent, the students logged on and reset each other's passwords, swapping codes.
"Even if I had a relapse, I couldn't log on to my account," Shannon, a freshman Spanish major, said. "I'm pretty sure if I asked her for the password to it, she wouldn't give it to me."
The two are no rookies to living technology free. Shannon has given up texting and Facebook before for Lent. Moore gave up Facebook for six months before Fall Semester because she realized she was spending too much time on it.
"I'm giving it up again because I like challenges. It strengthens my faith," Moore, a freshman pre-med major, said. "It's about being a man or a woman of your word."
Lent is a Catholic tradition, beginning Ash Wednesday and ending Easter Sunday. Allie Spindler, who is also making a social media sacrifice, said the 40 days of Lent symbolize the 40 days when Jesus was tempted by Satan in the wilderness.
"In the Catholic faith, we participate in abstinence, times of fasting and confession to strengthen our faith and prepare us for Easter," Spindler, a sophomore speech pathology major, said.
However Shannon and Moore don't identify with Catholicism, but as Christians they feel encouraged to participate. For Shannon, she said it is a time to evaluate her time with God and grow in her faith.
"I know it's more of a Catholic tradition, but I asked my mom about it when I was young and she said I could do it if I want, so I've been doing it ever since," Shannon said. "Also, I don't like being addicted to anything, so this is a test to see if I am actually addicted to Facebook."
Junior actuarial science major Kyle Kovert said he feels giving up the social media site is a taboo sacrifice.
"It's a challenge because people today are always plugged in electronically, whether through smart phones, iPads or laptops," he said. "It's kind of unheard of to unplug and not get news the very second it happens."
Senior journalism graphics major Valerie Carnevale spends the time she would normally on Facebook with other activities. She sees Lent as a time of reflection and refocus.
"Without Facebook, I realize I have a lot more time than I thought I did," Carnevale said. "I get a lot more done now, and I've been able to read a book, which is something thought I didn't have the time for before. I've also spent more time praying and doing things I have fun doing."
Professors agree with stepping away from the profile page, as it could help with academic achievement.
"Students are finding way too many distractions that keep them from studying for their classes," Gary Crawley, an assistant professor of political science, said. "I'm not opposed to technology, but I'm opposed to students writing with no concern for grammar — which things like Twitter and other social media can cause. These are skills students are losing and it can be a dangerous slope."
Shannon and Moore may be counting on accountability to keep their Lent sacrifice, but Carnevale utilizes other techniques.
After deleting the Facebook application from her iPhone, Carnevale also downloaded an app called Self Control, an app that helps with staying away from social media sites by blocking them for an allotted time.
Spindler said she focuses on the purpose of Lent to give her determination.
"I keep in mind the sacrifices that the Lord has made for me and my life, and it makes it a little easier to give up something as silly as Facebook for 40 days," Spindler said.
In the end, the students don't see themselves missing the site too much during their 40-day fast.
"I may miss the positive aspects of Facebook, but it's easy to lose yourself in it," Carnevale said. "You're looking at these perceived images that people make of their lives and it's easy to compare yourself to them. Then, you lose sight of the good things in your own life."
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