Beat Social Mediaናሙና

Alone. It’s a word that scares so many people. No mom wants to hear that her child was alone at school. Children and adults do things with friends to avoid being alone. A common fear is of dying alone.

Coming off of the pandemic, it’s hard not to feel alone when even the slightest hint of isolation is presented. One day in a house with no one else can feel like a miserable eternity––even for someone who tends to work well alone. 

Even before the pandemic, though, there were studies showing that the time people spent on social media was positively correlated with how isolated they felt.* In other words, their experience wasn’t at all positive. 

Social media didn’t solve the problem; it might have even made it worse.

And yet, when we feel lonely, where do we turn? Our magical little rectangles that “connect” us with the world.

What does Scripture have to say about it? Well, we know Jesus is always with us (Matt. 28:20). We know the Holy Spirit dwells within us (Rom. 8:9). And we have the church to encourage us and provide support when we need it (1 Thess. 5:11, Gal. 6:2). These are three ways God has provided for us to be comforted when we are discouraged and feel isolated.

There is a being, though, who desperately wants us to forget these promises and truths. The enemy wants to deceive us into thinking we are alone, powerless, and worthless. Sometimes, he succeeds and we feel horrible. In those moments, I want to encourage you to start repeating what you know is true: “God loves me. God sees me. God is with me, and He never fails.”

Just like the pickpocket, Satan is clever and distracts us with flashy things. In the case of social media and loneliness, he throws you the illusion of solace. We are drawn to it––like a moth to a flame––and we can be so easily sucked in. Once we are, it’s even easier to get stuck in the dull swamp of complacency.

Instead, let’s fight. When you feel the draw, maybe try something else. Like closing your eyes, remembering God is with you, and asking Him what He wants you to do with your time. Spend a moment listening to Him, in Scripture or in prayer. I promise you this: that time is so much more valuable than time looking at a little screen. Try it and find out.

*Primack, B. A., Shensa, A., Sidani, J. E., Whaite, E. O., Lin, L. Y., Rosen, D., Colditz, J. B., Radovic, A., & Miller, E. (2017). Social Media Use and Perceived Social Isolation Among Young Adults in the U.S. American journal of preventive medicine, 53(1), 1–8.