Dear You:
Did you check Instagram today?
I bet you did. Probably multiple times too. Not to mention Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube and Tumblr. When you think about what you do in your free time, does it have to do with all these online media? Whenever you take a break, it’s almost like a natural instinct to reach for your phone and click on all those apps, and just like that, hours have passed by. It’s kind of scary to think about how much of your day is spent online, isn’t it?
Where it all began
For me, social media became a thing when I was in upper primary. I got my first smartphone as a hand-me-down from my tech-savvy dad. Whenever it buzzed with that DING notification to announce that I received a new message from a classmate, I felt a tiny thrill inside.
Soon after, Instagram was all the rage, and suddenly everyone was obsessed with getting the perfect filter on their pictures, more followers and more likes on their profile.
Snapchat saw the disappearing photo format take the online world by storm. I remember when they added filters to the in-app camera, it was like magic seeing you and your friends’ faces being transformed on screen from anything to dog ears to wearing sunglasses and a moustache.
An Up & Downhill Experience
Exploring all these new apps was undeniably fun. Social media is after all, social, and being able to share messages, photos, and thoughts with friends became a big part of my daily routine. The novelty wore off after a while, but it was still cool and convenient to whip out your smartphone and send a quick text to anyone you wanted to and post any picture to see if it gets likes or comments.
The downhill parts were unexpected. I started to compare myself to everyone else I was seeing on my ‘feed’ who seemed to be living fantastic lives filled with good grades, delicious food, beautiful bodies and plenty of social gatherings. Sometimes, I wanted things that they had, like clothes or more money to go out for expensive lunches. Sometimes, I desired to appear more popular and host or attend parties. Sometimes, I even wanted to be them.
I was also confused about the different types of information I would get online. Was it okay to follow the examples of my friends who were also doing it-and posting about it? Was I supposed to aspire to a certain beauty standard because those were the profiles that got the most attention on Instagram? The online world became be a confusing place.
What Does God Say About Social Media?
Well, social media and modern technology didn’t exist back in the Old or New Testament. But God says plenty on how we should conduct ourselves as a holy people, consecrated for His purpose. He also continually points us in the right direction about who we are, and what we should form or identity on.
1. Love your neighbor with your worldview
What we see from other people, other people can also see from us. That means to say, we are also (unknowingly) influencing other people when we post and share online media. Since what we put online is a reflection of our worldview, it also tells a lot about what we believe in, and what our morals and values are. And if we are believers, our worldview should then center on Jesus and his message.
So perhaps the next time before posting, ask yourself: does what I am sharing show love for God and his people?
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:1-2)
2. Be careful of the words you use
Social media is a place ripe with opportunities for people to say hurtful things to one another. But remember that the Bible says this about ungodly words:
“The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom, but the perverse tongue will be cut off. The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable, but the mouth of the wicked, what is perverse. ”
“But now you must get rid of all such things – anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive language from your mouth.”
It’s important to ensure that the relationships we have are not damaged by what we say online, whether intentionally or not. God also cares about how we use our words and whether they are spoken to build each other up or tear each other down.
3. Have wisdom when browsing and engaging on social media
“Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time.”
“For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.”
Social media is still a relatively new medium of communication and is constantly evolving. How we approach and use it can change in a matter of weeks. But in all circumstances, God calls us to live lives with wisdom. So even though something online may seem trendy because many people are doing are engaged in it, we know that our true compass comes from the Word and not from worldly behavior. Our worth is found as sons and daughters of Christ.
What Now?
In the context of social media where many outside voices collide, we should carefully consider how we can act in a way that pleases Him - to remain pure and blameless until the day of Christ (Philippians 1:10). There’s no one perfect way to use social media, but there’s only one voice to listen to, and that’s the voice of God.
With Love: Noah