Social media is a topic that many of us can find difficult, confusing, and even frustrating. However, the use of social media has only increased during the two years of the pandemic, partially fueled by the desire to stay connected with friends and family and even as a way to escape boredom. Yet, while the usage rates have increased dramatically, not many people have considered what that increase may result in for young people.
Based on a recent study by common sense media, the average 13-17 year-old spends 8.3 hours a day on the big five of social media - Youtube, TikTok, Snapchat, Reddit, and Instagram. Kids aged 8-13 spend on average 5.6 hours a day on social media. Most kids gain more information and view more content in a single day than most people would in a month only 50 years ago.
What effect does this have on our young people? While there are several studies regarding this topic, one thing to consider is the largest factor that social media utilizes: magnification. In our hyper-politicized world, it isn’t difficult to understand that social media has played a role in making situations seem more common than it truly is. Whereas in the past, you may have read a single opinion piece in a newspaper, today, when you read social media, you can get blasted by the same opinion repeatedly. This effect can lead to a common threat of indoctrination. A child can hear an incredible amount of arguments on any topic within 20 minutes of social media usage.
What does this magnification lead to happening? The main goal of social media is to create a sense of community and belonging. This sense of community is the foundation for building an identity. This effect is seen clearly with the rise of LGBTQ content on social media, particularly this month.
So what is the Christian response to this? Do we never use social media? Do we go on social media rants on controversial topics? No, we simply need to recognize what is our Biblical truth on these topics.
While social media is helpful for connecting with family and friends, we must recognize that God has given us an incredible source of community in His church. The felt needs that push people to seeking a community are fulfilled within the church.
However, the foundation for building a community rests in one’s identity. Facebook Groups are designed around this whole premise. Like fishing? Join this Bass Fishing group. Like knitting? Join this Grandma for knitting group. The church likewise rests on people finding a shared identity in Christ. While social media pushes a search for identity, Scripture clearly shows that our identity is complete in Christ. For those that have accepted Christ, we are given the identity that we all desire. Galatians 3:27-28 states, “…as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
In Christ, we are given an identity that has freed us from all prejudice and grants us access to the life-changing purpose for which all humanity is searching. The main reason social media easily changes a person’s lifestyle and ideology is that it offers a person an identity. This is the main draw of social media for people of all ages. As Christians, we must recognize the position of our identity in Christ that gives us purpose and frees us from the potential trap of social media.
Sincerely,
Pastor Derek Whitman