The Dark Side of Facebook

Can you imagine living back in the days where people communicated with each other by letter writing? Can you imagine instead of whipping out your phone and in a blinding thumb flurry sending a message to your bff that you want to go to the mall, having to sit down at a desk, pull out a sheet of parchment and manually pen your thoughts? And to vex the modern soul further, can you imagine having to wait days, or even weeks for a reply? The whole idea is quite foreign to many of us, I am sure.  

While I for one am personally glad that texting, telephones, and email does exist (especially when you loose your sibling in Wal-Mart) I have to admit, I am still dubious about the whole Facebook idea. I don’t really think it is a good idea. “But Jennie!” you say, “you have a Facebook! Aren’t you being a little hypocritical?” No, I don’t think so. I think Facebook is okay if it is used moderately, and used in a Christian manner. I myself am far from perfect, but it just seems to me that young people tend to forget that so many people can view what they do, what they say, and what pictures or videos they post. I know I have lost a great deal of respect for some young ladies (and young men…and even adults!) who misbehave on Facebook. I see siblings calling each other names, I see children disrespecting their parents, I see broken up couples talk maliciously about their ex, I see Christians use language they have no business using...or most of all, I see people using Facebook as a dumping site for complaining. They complain about their work, about their coworkers, about life, about the weather, or just how they are so mad/unhappy/sad/irritated at all the world, etc. 

Ladies! Do you realize how discouraging it is to your friends as they open up Facebook and see endless statuses about how everyone is so miserable? It seems if you really want to get to know someone, look them up on Facebook. I am sad to say many people have lost their Christianity on Facebook… it makes me wonder if they ever had it to begin with!  

I think we should use Facebook to encourage other people with happy posts, encouraging statuses, and very little complaining about life. Wouldn’t it be great to live in a world where instead of being reminded of how awful everything is, we are reminded of its beauty? Or instead of squabbling in useless debates and argumentative pointless quarrels, what if we reminded each other of how great our God is? And wouldn’t it be so comforting to know that we are surrounded by brothers and sisters in Christ, and not people who are self-centeredly thinking only about posting their hour-by-hour agenda? 

Again, I say, I am far from perfect and probably have behaved before quite ridiculous on Facebook. But now, I try to view it differently. I view it as a great tool for either good or bad. Remember, what you say can be seen by everyone. If you realized just how many people read your words, looked through your pictures, and watched your videos perhaps you might change what you said! I believe Facebook doesn't have to be evil. It can be very good and very powerful if we decide to use it for glorifying God, not promoting ourselves!

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"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." Eph 4:29

"Don't let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity." 1 Tim 4:12