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Your sense of reality is based on the things you immerse
yourself in. When you spend a lot of time on something, it can influence your
thought life and how you feel (Facebook proved their influence on emotions in a
controversial
study published in 2014). The influence can be spiritual, too.
If you’re between 18 and 35 years old, chances are that you
spend about 3.8
cumulative hours a day on social media. The stats aren't much better for those over 40. That’s a lot of time and daily
devotion, especially considering that only 15%
of average American adults claim to read the Bible daily.
What’s the effect of all this time on social media?
For many of us, a skewed sense of reality, and with it, a
skewed perception of self, others, and the Lord.
Consider these 5 ways that social media skews the truth:
1. Represents A
One-Dimensional View
Have you ever had the feeling as you scroll through your
Facebook feed that you’re viewing a gallery of someone else’s “perfect” life?
There’s a reason for that. Facebook is one-dimensional. On
social media, users determine what they display. Most people display pictures
of their families, beau, pets, exciting trips, etc. You see posts about Gotham
and Parks and Rec, a Bible verse here and there, and some funny quips.
You rarely read about people’s personal struggles. Politics,
religion, health issues, and other “hot button” issues are generally no-no’s.
Those aren’t what social media is designed for. But struggles, conflict, and
suffering are all a part of real life that you can’t (and shouldn’t) avoid.
Whether or not you surround yourself with outspoken,
opinionated people, your life isn’t one giant swath of positive reinforcement.
In reality, life doesn’t always go your way. People argue. Your co-workers’ and
friends’ body language let you know that people don’t always agree with you.
In reality, tragedy and loss are met with natural provisions
of comfort. You receive empathetic looks. When you hear horrible news, you
exchange expressions of sorrow or shock, and might give someone a hug. Whole
conversations allow you to properly grieve.
On social media, you “like” stuff. From news reports about
tsunamis to your friend’s RIP tweet, the most natural reaction you can offer on
social media is to leave a quick impression, share the word, or reply with an
emoticon. Condolences are often limited to 140 characters or less.
3. Provides No
Context
A single image and a limited text box often provide very
little space for substantive content. Especially when intermixed with all of
your connections’ (and the world’s!) opinions and posts and pictures, it’s hard
to really get an accurate message across.
When you post an article and say “interesting argument,” for
instance, your opinion and beliefs are open to anyone’s interpretation and
assumptions.
With no context for much of anything, social media creates a
culture of tossing things out into the great beyond carelessly. The power of
the story, the thesis, or the intent of anything and everything is simply lost
in the process.
4. Buffers
Consequences
Real-life consequences are largely buffered on social media.
You can delete a contact for posting an article that you assume they agree with and that offends you deeply without ever
confronting anyone. People can get into wild, vicious debates and devour one
another with no real life effects.
It’s also possible to interact without ever actually doing or
experiencing anything. How? Check out how many “likes” there are on a
non-profit’s page about feeding orphans, and then look at the donations the
non-profit actually receives.
5. Fosters an
Illusion of Connection
What this all comes down to is that social media transforms
reality into a tidy, manageable, set of illusions.
The world of social media allows you to connect with
hundreds and thousands of people you don’t know. But you can make that
connection without any of the risks of having to actually be in relationship
with others.
With a buffer for consequences, a lack of context apart from
your interpretation, loads of positive reinforcement, and a palatable,
one-dimensional view, you can be “in community” without getting out of your own
little world.
Here’s the problem: real relationships have risks and
stretch you. Real life is risky. Living a life that honors the Lord? Even more
dangerous and challenging. Through social media, we can feel like we’re really
living and loving and relating, but we can completely miss the reality of
what’s actually going on in our hearts and in others’ lives.
Why It Matters
Social media is virtual. Have you ever thought about that
word? Virtual means:
being very close to something without actually being it.
One of the first verses to come to mind in connection with
the word: “having the appearance of godliness, but denying it’s power. Avoid
such people.” Thank you 2 Timothy 3:5.
What about “be doers of the Word, and not just hearers
deceiving yourselves” (James 1:22)?
So much of the time that we spend online we are just
perpetually hearing. We are just enjoying appearances of “good” lives, causes,
and relationships. But we’re denying the power of reality and of connection.
We’re deceiving ourselves concerning what living actually requires.
As Christians, that matters all the more.
When you follow Jesus Christ, you’re called into deeper
relationships. You’re called to commit your work to the Lord, to have
integrity, to be sharpened, to test your heart, to speak the truth, as well as to
ask for forgiveness and to forgive. Plus a whole lot more.
While you may be able to use social media as a tool for
launching into the kind of life Jesus gives, you’re not going to live that true
life entirely online. But it may feel
like you are.
So take warning. Don’t be deceived. While you don’t need to
delete your profile, you must examine your ways. Are you
relying on the illusions of social media to guard yourself against the (social)
life that Christ designs?
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