The Temptation of Digital Distraction

We often joke about our coffee addiction when we're not functional without our morning dose of caffeine, but very few people would advise us to seek treatment for it. Addiction is typically associated with drug or alcohol dependence that destroys relationships with friends and family and profoundly damages the health of the affected individuals, potentially leading to their death. No one has died from excessive social media consumption yet. But can social media still be addictive, or is our fixation on our number of followers comparable to a "coffee addiction" - an innocent craving that harms no one?

Unlike drugs or alcohol, the addictive element in Instagram and other platforms like it is not a substance but a feeling. We are addicted to the attention, recognition, and admiration we receive in the form of likes and comments. When other people comment on posts or like photos, we feel seen. As communication platforms, social media can be a blessing when it strengthens weakened family ties. It is a gift that we no longer have to wait weeks for a letter from a loved one. Instead, we can have a video call. We are social beings, and we need community.

Social media platforms suggest they can satisfy our need for attention. In a time when more and more people are lonely, they provide a meeting place where no one has to be alone - almost like a digital campfire. What happens when these platforms become more than just a virtual exchange? What happens when life increasingly shifts into the virtual world of social media and hours are spent scrolling through posts and pictures of other people?

While social media can warm us internally, it can also intensify feelings of inner emptiness. Ultimately, the digital world cannot fulfill the human need for a genuine community. Only Jesus can do that. Jesus remained unaffected by praise or criticism. He knew exactly who He was and what His calling looked like. He didn't need other people to tell him that they thought He was great. Instead, He sought the affirmation and identity he needed from his Father through prayer.

Next Step: Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal where you have developed an unhealthy relationship with social media and how He wants to lead you out of this bondage.