How Is Social Media Disconnecting Us?
Scroll. Double-tap. Scroll. Insert funny caption. Scroll. Edit photo. Scroll. Swipe through stories. Scroll. Take the perfect pic with the right aesthetic. Scroll. Compare. Scroll.
Sound familiar?
The movement of our fingers normally dictates the direction of our day. Our likes establish cheap acceptance while our posts give us fleeting affirmation. Everyone’s highlight reel allows envy to fester. Posting posed pictures puffs up our pride.
Along the way, we’ve allowed this swiping and scrolling to form our identities. We have allowed ourselves to become the sum of our social media presence.
Overall, Instagram and Snapchat aren’t evil or sinful. But the way we define ourselves by these platforms sure leads us into trouble. As a result of filtering ourselves and our lives through a screen, we have lost connection with reality, others, and most importantly, the Lord.
DISCONNECTION FROM REALITY
Snapchat filters retouch every blemish. Instagram highlights the things we want others to see. Twitter captures the height of our humor. Pinterest helps us dream up our “perfect” lives. Our posts often reflect the picture we want to paint, not what our life honestly portrays.
Curating our social media gives us control of what others see in our lives, blinding us to the authority God has in ours. The beauty you see in each photo? Yeah, God knew you before He created the world! The car you’re humblebragging about? Um, God made that happen. When we fail to see God’s blessings in our lives, we tend to give ourselves the credit. The ability to reframe every situation allows our gratitude to slip through the cracks.
The life we portray through our camera lenses is our highlight reel. We know ours is. Yet what’s funny is that we still fall prey to believing others’ highlight reels are the real deal. This paradox is where jealousy and discontentment creep into our hearts. Instead of praising the Lord for the gifts He’s given, we find ourselves yearning for a different life.
Proverbs 14:30 says, “A tranquil heart gives life to the flesh, but envy makes the bones rot.” This proverb makes our reality clear: we can’t live a life of peace when discontentment distracts us from praising God. So if a dash of dissatisfaction strikes, don’t let envy sink deep into your bones. Comparing yourself is never worth forfeiting Christ’s peace on the altar of jealousy.
DISCONNECTION FROM OTHERS
The internet is such a weird gift, isn’t it? We can communicate with people halfway around the world in an instant. However, constant communication doesn’t equate to quality connection.
For instance, Minted Truth gets to chat with girls from all over the world. Just recently, we’ve emailed back and forth with girls from Japan, Australia, and throughout the United States. If you’re one of those girls, shout-out! Although I will probably never meet you in person on this side of heaven, God blessed me to be able to encourage you with biblical truth while sitting in my yoga pants. Life. Is. Great.
Though our team was able to answer their questions, I would never want them to substitute these conversations for real-life friendships. Ever. Community doesn’t form over GIFs but over the unstoppable giggles of a late-night slumber party. We need transparency more than texting. We need real-life encouragement instead of edited versions of our lives.
The second we believe online relationships provide more connection than doing life side-by-side with others, we fail to live in true community like Jesus modeled.
The Lord hardwired us to connect with people in person. We were given flesh so we can weep together, walk together, and work together. Social media places buffers in the way of authentic transparency, leaving us feeling unplugged and unloved.
DISCONNECTION FROM GOD
One of the most significant ways social media puts wedges between the Lord and us is the use of our time. It’s less mental energy to dive into someone’s Instagram account than into the depths of God’s Word. But the reward found in devoting yourself to spending time with Jesus is irreplaceable. No amount of likes, comments, or compliments can do your heart right like spending time with Christ.
Also, if we aren’t careful, we can substitute cheap imitations of spirituality for a thriving relationship with our Savior. Instagram and Pinterest are places we find Christian bloggers, inspirational quotes, and Bible verses. And that’s a great way to let the Holy Spirit remind you of truth throughout your day! But if we only allow others’ time with the Lord to teach us about God, we lack a quality connection to the Creator of this world.
Reading Christian inspirational quotes can only take us so far. However, the divine inspiration of God’s Word is all we need to thrive in this world. If you know more bloggers than biblical truths, social media might be disconnecting you from your Savior!
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Overall, creation was shaped for connection with the Creator, not constant content creation. If social media is choking our contact with reality, others, or God, then it might be time to step back for a while to refresh. Next week, we will be talking about how we can place boundaries on our social media apps and phones to worship through connection instead of worshiping our phones. But before reading those tips, take some time to think about how social media is disconnecting the life you portray from the life you’ve been given. Then repent and ask God to help redeem this area of your life!
Megan Gover is the executive director of Minted Truth, an online Bible study resource for middle school and high school girls around the world. She and her team desire teen girls to know Christ deeper through Bible studies and resources available on their free Minted Truth app. When she’s not meeting with teen girls at a local coffee shop or dreaming up a new adventure, she enjoys cuddling with her Goldendoodle pup while at home in North Texas. Connect with her on Instagram!