5 Lies Social Media is Telling You

The impact of social media cannot be understated in these modern times. With over two billion people on this planet connected via various social networks the global societal transformation of the last decade is nothing short of remarkable! With these new frontiers of communication and relationship come many challenges, especially for the discerning Christian.

With the arrival of so many new modes of communication we are now bombarded for a plethora of messages every day. What is true? What is reality? Sadly the Information Age, ironically, has in many ways clouded the truth. Scripture commands us to cast our thoughts on certain things,

“Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.” Philippians 4:8

Is social media helping us to this end or hurting us? What thoughts have you allowed social media to bombard you with this week? Many of these thoughts are outright lies. Here are five of these lies:

1. Life is Good

It is a rare occurrence to see a picture into the real difficulties of life on social media. It is mostly proms, date nights, vacations, filtered selfies, and perfect sunsets. How much of our mundane (read: normal) lives do these snapshots represent? Very little. A married couple will put up happy pictures as they celebrate an anniversary, but when you have seen a public divorce announcement? Baby pictures. Enough said. Miscarriage posts? Few and far between.

Social media has become a dishonest picture of most of our lives. Instead of representing a “true” picture of reality it distorts reality into alternative universe in which pain or failure are close to non-existent or are only shared if they include a victory or redemption aspect and beauty and happiness are our perpetual existence. Life is not always “good.”

2. Likes Make Right

Social media rewards anything that goes ‘viral.” Web-traffic and popularity online does not equate to a person doing the right thing. We need to ask ourselves if what we are posting is edifying, does it impart grace to those who read it or see it (Ephesians 4:29). The amount of likes does not make it right. Maybe it was gossip? Maybe it was inappropriate? Don’t let the desire to increase your “reach” or “followers” destroy the integrity of what you put on social media.

3. They look Perfect

Filters and Photoshop. What you see online is not reality. Just like what was already said about how life almost always appears to be good so do you rarely see a bad hair day on Snapchat or Instagram. I once watched a woman after walking off a plane at an airport stand in a terminal for over ten minutes in the same place trying to get the “perfect” selfie. None of her followers know it took ten minutes to get that “quick and candid selfie.” This behavior distorts our perspective of beauty and also can slowly destroy your perception of self.

4. It is not an Argument, It is a Discussion

Sure, on the surface many comments and forum discussions take the form of a discussion that would resemble a verbal conversation. But picture that verbal conversation being broadcast for thousands or millions to see. You cannot say that that does not change the tone, intensity, or civility of the discussion or conversation. All of the sudden, you are performing for an audience. If you want to have a serious dialogue take it into private messages, a person will rarely admit they are wrong in front of an audience of all their friends. It also is a great way to avoid coming across as insensitive or proud.

5. It is just a picture/message

Something about the medium of communication via text message or various social media apps lessons the seriousness of communication. Wouldn't it be weird to write handwritten letters, dozens of them, to someone of the opposite sex if you were married? But somehow regular texting is appropriate. The medium has changed but why has the appropriateness followed. I cannot count how many affairs and immoralities I have heard about that began through social networks or messaging. For this reason we need to be on guard and realize that all communication digital and not has power and is affecting our relationships with people. Is it moving us closer to Jesus?

Are we discerning what thoughts and ideas are assailing us through social media as followers of Jesus? Have we spent enough time in the Word renewing our mind (Hebrews 4:12; Romans 12:1-2; 2 Corinthians 10:3-6) that we can see the lies that are put before us? Social media can and should be a tool for improving communication, capturing moments for others to see, and spreading the gospel of Jesus.

Guard yourself against the lies of social media!