Social (Media) Awareness
what I've learned + 9 practical tips
A note: (1) I care about you. & I need you to know about this. (2) This topic is hard. But it’s also important.
Our MIND matters.
The recent facts I’ve learned about just two features on social media have made me more aware of how I interact with Instagram, Facebook, & the alike. It’s resulted in me questioning my role & the part I play in it all.
My hope is that the information will increase your awareness & offer you a new perspective.
Perhaps we can be better stewards of what’s been entrusted to us.
The Infinite Scroll
As we scroll through social media (Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest, etc.), it’s never-ending. Have you ever realized you never actually make it to the bottom of a web page? It keeps going. & Because it keeps going, our subconscious response is to think there is more to see or read. It makes us question if we have missed anything. Has it crossed your mind? If I continue to scroll a little bit longer, there’s a foggy hope I will actually see something.
It’s an addictive formula.
Read these quotes by the leading engineer & designer of the infinite scroll, Mr. Raskin:
“If you don’t give your brain time to catch up with your impulses, you just keep scrolling.”
“The innovation is that infinite scroll keeps users looking at their phones far longer than necessary.”
“Behind every screen on your phone, there are literally a thousand engineers that have worked on this thing to try to make it maximally addicting.”
“It’s as if they’re taking behavioral cocaine and just sprinkling it all over your interface & that’s the thing that keeps you coming back.”
Did you catch that? Social media is being compared to that of a cigarette. It’s affecting our health. It’s making us sick. & we’re addicated. We can’t help but keep coming back to get those little hits.
The Pull-Down Refresh
When you want to refresh a page, you hold your thumb & pull down on the screen. In doing so, you’re be able to see the newest image & message someone has posted. Sound familiar?
This has been said to be designed after the same pull down motion of a slot machine. Research was conducted to watch the addictive behaviors of people gambling & resulted in the design we have today. — Pull down & wait to see what comes up next.
Think about it. We’re pulling a slot machine to check for new emails, notifications, & updates.
Check out the headlines of these articles from a simple google search:
Social Media Copies Gambling Methods 'To Create Psychological Cravings
Experts Link Smartphone 'Pull-To-Refresh' Feature To Slot Machine Design
Ex-Googler Slams Designers For Making Apps Addictive Like 'Slot Machines'
SUMMARY
The Infinite Scroll & The Pull-Down Refresh are just two features that were intentionally created by developers to keep you coming back & to increase your length of stay. Why? Because that’s how more money is made. The more engagement, the more eyes, & the paid ads (to name a few) are all there to increase revenues. Makes sense.
Knowing social media is a big part of people’s lives. I want to be responsible. I want to be helpful & kind. I want to maintain my reputation & share words that build credibility. As a follower of Jesus, this means I get to participate in building the credibility of God.
How We Use Social Media Matters.
Let’s take steps to grow in these areas.
here are 9 practical tips:
ONLINE LIFE IS REAL LIFE.
If we live online, we are living online. When we go to post, we are posting to real people & the messages matter. — Because it’s real life we’re speaking about, yes? Whether you’re on or off is a choice. May our mission be the same: words have life & death in them. We can build people up or tear people down.
POSTING IS NOT FOR COMPLEX MESSAGES.
I’ve learned social media is the wrong medium for complex ideas & lengthy posts. (It’s honestly like a one-sided conversation.) Rather, it’s for small moments of down time. Bite-sized information. Everything is written to be concise & provide a minimal amount of thought.
BE GENTLE.
In Matthew 11:29, Jesus describes himself as gentle. If we are on mission to be like Jesus, this includes gentleness. It’s a fruit of the spirit & should show up in the way we speak.
A kind reminder: When people are hyped on emotions, people expect emotions to be matched. Gentleness cuts that.
WHAT STORY ARE YOU TELLING WITH YOUR LIFE?
Go back through your feed & see what story you are telling.
PERFECTION.
It can be an enemy of the gospel & it’s one I’m guilty of trying so hard to attain. I have to remind myself, that if I & my world were perfect, there would be no need for Jesus. The good news: It’s a diagnosis that has a treatment. God looks at my lack of perfection & still says, “I love you.”
It’s possible to show your true self with wisdom. It’s possible to use a platform & show what God is doing in our life.
THE POSTURE OF YOUR HEART.
In James 4, we learn God gives grace to the humble. If you’re using social media to say, “look at me”, then we need to think about the posture of our heart. It’s not bad to post a picture of yourself. It’s about the heart behind what you do because it can become a form of self idolatry.
Ask yourself: Do I live for the praise of others, attention, or approval? Why am I posting this?
BENEFIT OTHERS.
People are watching for a message of hope. Be a message of hope. Ephesians 4:29 tells us to only speak what is helpful that it may benefit others. Are we building people up? Are we an inspiration to others because of our humility & joyful life?
PRACTICE DISCERNMENT.
I’ve learned to think of social media like money. It’s not right or wrong, but it can be depending on how we treat it & use it. Is it appropriate for me to be on social media 3, 6, 8 hours a day?
WHAT WE TAKE IN SHAPES US.
Don’t be conformed to this world. We are going to be influenced & we will conform to the image of what we allow to shape us. Pray for discernment & wisdom to know when you are being shaped too much & need to back away.
Resources:
BOOK
The Tech-Wise Family by Andy Crouch
Podcast EPISODES
ELEVEN WAYS TO TRANSFORM YOUR ONLINE LIFE
EPISODE 12: 3 HABITS TO PUT SOCIAL MEDIA IN ITS PLACE
CHALLENGE