Why I WON'T quit Social Media

Social media has recently erupted over a girl named Essena O’neil. Essena has a massive following on social media with over 700k followers on Instagram and over 260k followers on YouTube.

Today, Essena made a bold decision to quit social media and expose the truth behind her seemingly perfect life. 

Essena wanted to bring to light the addiction that is found in social media. In particular, the desire and pressure to find social approval through thousands of likes, comments and perfectly edited photos and posts.

I applaud Essena for doing this, HOWEVER here is why I WON'T quit social media.

 

1. EVERYthing can be used for either good or bad

Chocolate, music, leadership, guns, and even sex can be used for good or bad...Social media is similar - it can be used for either good or bad.

I want to use social media for GOOD!

Our generation is a highlight generation; we have access to everyone’s highlights and no ones lowlights. No one is going to post a picture of the worst part of their day,  it just doesn't happen! It is easy to play the comparison game when it comes to social media. We can often look at the people around us and feel inadequate and compare their highlights with our lowlights.

On the contrary I see so much potential with social media. Rather then cyber bullying or trying to create a fake life on social media, we can create a space of inspiration and encouragement. A space where people feel built up rather then teared down.

Let's control social media and not let it control us.

If we can see social media as an opportunity and platform to have a positive impact on another persons life,  it could be  a game changer.

“It is easy to play the comparison game when it comes to social media.”

2. Our value and identity is not found in social media

I am a Christian and I whole hearted believe that my value and identity is found in Jesus Christ. I believe that he is fully man and fully God and paid the ultimate sacrifice of dying on the cross and rising from the dead three days later to give me eternal life. It is by the work that He did on the cross that we can find our identity and value. He paid the ULTIMATE price for us – death. He said I love you SO much that I am prepared to die for you! What a crazy thought.

His message is so scandalous.  It doesn't matter how broken or messed up we are, His grace is for us. It is through this understanding of how much He loves us that it moves us into a position of finding our identity in Jesus and our value in him.

When our value and identity is in Jesus no longer do we need to look to social media as the dictator of that. We do not have to quit social media or think of it as a bad thing but actually look at is an opportunity. The apostle Paul wrote this “…I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. 23 I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.” (1 corinthians 9:22-23). Paul is making this statement saying I will do whatever it takes to win more people to Christ. By whatever means necessary to win people. I view social media as a way in which we can point people to Jesus.

3. SOCIAL MEDIA CAN REACH PEOPLE FAR AND WIDE.

At the click of a few buttons we can have access to thousands upon thousands of people. This is the main reason I have created this blog, to point more people to Jesus. All throughout history we see people using the means they had to point people to Jesus. The apostle Paul when in jail had a pen and a candle to write letters to churches. John Wesley used a horse to travel the world preaching. William Wilberforce used his political position to abolish slavery. Nelson Mandela used his prison cell as a pulpit. Rosa Parks used a bus seat to stand up to for equality. Martin Luther used a church door to spark a reformation. 

Each generation throughout church history capitalised on the “means” they had to point people to Jesus and stand up for what they believe in.

Social media when used positively can have a profound impact on the community. I don’t think we have barely scratched the surface for the potential we have with social media for good.

So I WON’T quit social media because I want to point people to Jesus through it. Let’s look to inspire one another through social media. Don’t waste time comparing and trying to find validation through it. Look at it as an opportunity rather then a threat.