The Young Adult’s Guide to Social Media
As a teenager, I craved what every other thirteen-year-old girl craves: the acceptance and approval of my peers. As a teenager who grew up during the smartphone and social media era, I did what every other teenager searching for satisfaction did: I downloaded Instagram . . . and Snapchat, YouTube, Pinterest, and any other social media app that my friends and classmates had.
What started as a quest for approval quickly spiraled into a quarrel with addiction. I was publishing pictures and posts on a daily basis, desperately hoping for more likes and comments. I would scroll my screen for hours, ignoring my family and constantly keeping my mind distracted from the real life that was right in front of me. I even discovered sexual images and narratives that I was far too young and immature to fully understand or know how to avoid.
Using social media left me feeling empty, unsatisfied, damaged, and rebellious. Anything but a child of God, made in His image. Thankfully, that’s when God intervened (with the help of my parents) and provided an opportunity for me to step away from the smartphone and gain a healthy perspective about the dangers and pitfalls of social media.
While stepping away from social media is a good option for many young adults, it seems like an increasingly difficult task. For Gen Z, social media is the primary source of communication and information. We connect with close friends and old acquaintances, discover local events in our community, and peruse national and international headlines. We shop for new and used goods, find book recommendations, and unearth delicious dinner recipes. All with just a few taps and swipes.
So how can Christian young adults navigate these apps and websites in a way that avoids temptation and addiction, and ultimately honors and glorifies Christ?
Be Content
Months ago, I was scrolling through Facebook and came across some pictures of a friend’s European vacation. As I admired her photos of beautiful sights and cool experiences, I felt some envy and jealousy boil up within me. I wanted to see those sights. I wanted to have those experiences, I wanted what my friend had. But alas, I was stuck at my nine-to-five job, trying to pay off my student loan debt and put some money in my savings account. Her life was not mine, in spite of my inner wrestling with envy.
We all know the filtered lives of those we follow on social media are rarely what they seem. Yet, we often cannot help but pine after what our friends and favorite influencers possess. As Christians, we ought to put away our envy and learn to be content. After all, nothing on this earth truly belongs to us and nothing we acquire in this life can be taken to the next (1 Tim. 6:6–8). Everything belongs to God, and he has promised to provide for all our needs (Matt. 6:33; Phil 4:19). We can be content, whether we have the latest fashions and gadgets or not, because God is with us and gives us strength (Phil. 4:11–13; Heb. 13:5).
Be Self-Controlled
It’s no secret that we live in an extremely polarized era of history. No place is this more evident than on social media. People spout off their 280-character opinions on the latest hot-button issue for the whole world to see, and those who disagree immediately use their thumbs to go to war in the comment section. Perhaps this is not a surprising behavior for an unbeliever living in a secular society, but I’ve witnessed this exact same behavior amongst professing Christians.
I think we, as Christians, sometimes forget that the gospel is meant to transform how we live and interact with others, not leave us conformed to the culture around us (Rom. 12:2). This means that instead of being quick to anger and quick to speak, we ought to learn the meaning of self-control. God’s Word exhorts us repeatedly to live self-controlled lives (2 Tim. 1:7; Titus 1:8; 2:11–12; 1 Peter 4:7; 2 Peter 1:5–7). After all, self-control is a fruit of the Holy Spirit’s presence and work in our lives (Gal. 5:22–23). Being self-controlled means we’re slow to anger when someone leaves a nasty comment on our posts. It means we’re slow to speak when we don’t fully understand the issues at hand (James 1:19). It means we don’t engage in unwholesome talk, even when it’s not face-to-face (Eph. 4:29).
Be Courageous
For all the negative aspects of social media, there is at least one positive. Through social media, we are connected with so many more people than we used to be, and we have wider circles of influence than ever before. This means the gospel can reach the eyes of exponentially more people who are searching for truth and satisfaction.
When I returned to social media after my years-long hiatus in middle and high schools, I became more intentional about sharing God’s Word in what I posted. I had a strong desire to glorify God on my social media (1 Cor. 10:31). When we preach Christ and him crucified online, it’s inevitable that we’ll get some pushback. I know I’ve received my fair share. Those who live in darkness hate the light (John 3:20), but we must have the courage to keep shining it. When we share the gospel on social media, we can have courage because God is with us (Joshua 1:9). Even when we’re mocked, ridiculed, and shamed for our counter-cultural beliefs, we can take heart and be at peace, for our Lord has overcome the world (John 16:33).
Social Media and the Young Adult
Social media is the primary cause of anxiety and depression in the lives of so many young adults, yet it has imbedded itself so deeply in our culture that we can’t seem to escape it. If you’re a young adult (or an adult of any age) and you have the ability to get off of social media, do it. I once heard it said that you’ll never look back and think, “Gee, I wish I spent more time on social media.” You’ll experience a level of freedom and peace you haven’t felt in a long time.
But if you don’t think you can get away from social media, do not fear. There are steps you can take to redeem your screen time. Be content. Don’t covet what those you follow have. Be self-controlled. Don’t be impatient when interacting with people who hold differing viewpoints. And be courageous. Don’t waste your time on social media posting about trivial things. Be bold and share the gospel of Jesus Christ to bring glory to God.
Tristany Corgan lives in sunny central Florida. She has a master’s degree in Biblical Exposition from Liberty University, and she works as a Database Manager for a local Christian non-profit. Tristany has a passion for encouraging women to know and love the Word of God, and she has written about the Bible and theology for several Christian women’s ministries, including The Daily Grace Co., Hosanna Revival, and Wholehearted Quiet Time. You can read more of her work at tristanycorgan.com.