Giving up social media is long overdue. I surprised myself when I came to the decision with a strange sense of calmness. In some ways, it might seem like a step backward after building a small following across Facebook, Instagram and Twitter over the years. But what is lacking for me is genuine social connection and the volume of information out there.
I joined social media to follow people I wanted to stay in touch with. Now I just scroll aimlessly, watching random snapshots of their lives, their thoughts, their struggles. Sure, I have left messages in their inbox from time to time, commented on the odd status update, and liked far too many posts than I could probably keep track of. But it’s no longer just friends. It’s businesses and organisations. Expectations to like, comment, share, follow, create, along with the rest of the world with an internet connection. Billions of people. The information is all consuming.
Information overload and longing for real connection
There’s an expectation to build a following as a writer. It takes a lot of time to build up a ‘following’ or to become an ‘influencer’. I have never thought in those terms about myself, although I’ve seen this develop from the sidelines as I have observed so many build up their own ‘platforms’. Motive is everything here, so it’s not bad to have followers. Man looks at the outward appearance after all, not the heart! I don’t know what drives others to keep up with their various platforms. But surely, I’m not alone in thinking there is too much content out there? How can we keep up with everyone we want to? In short, we can’t. I’m a little fatigued by it all.
There is a place for social media. But it’s not a place I feel comfortable with anymore.
I’m a big fan of exchanging phone numbers and email addresses. I am actually warming up to email mailing lists. I have my own after all! It means I get news straight into my inbox from those who I don’t want to miss a thing from. I can then share that with my friends directly. Unfortunately on social media, algorithms amongst other factors mean I don’t get to see all that would be important to me. Not to mention all the distractions from advertisers, or seeing suggested people to follow, or what other people have just liked or commented on etc. I can barely keep track of my own thoughts, let alone the thoughts of others!
My main concern in leaving social media is that there may be fewer people being able to be reached with the hope of the good news of Jesus that I have tried to faithfully share for over ten years. But even then, there are plenty of faithful Christians out there on social media already. They are creating content. Some may even share something of what I do here! The Lord knows what He is doing. The saving of souls does not lay on my shoulders, and I can partner with God with or without socials!
I am stepping back in order to focus on what is in front of me: my family, friends, and any discipleship opportunities that come my way. God is from everlasting to everlasting. He doesn’t need PR. He doesn’t need me on social media. It’s not a bad thing or a salvation issue being on there either! But there are also a lot of pitfalls, distractions and temptations that abound in the online space.
I do have the option to unplug.
We all do.
But it has become increasingly difficult to walk away. Social media and many things online today are designed to keep us hooked and addicted. I’m hoping in walking away from this, I will quieten many voices that have tried to worm their way into my brain for so long. I need to free up my time and my mind from this way of life.
What finally made me quit
I announced my decision on social media. This is what I said on why I had decided to quit social media (and this was just the handful of reasons I chose, not the extent of my thoughts of quitting!):
‘There were too many reasons to count. But what tipped it for me was seeing a father and son, side by side, staring at their devices in silence in a waiting room the whole time until they were called. I’m not sure what they were looking at, but it really doesn’t matter. They weren’t the only ones in that waiting room doing it either. It’s such a common look today.
We all do it. To pass time. To entertain. To distract. To keep boredom at bay. To keep silence away.
I remember growing up free from social media (I know, I’m getting old). It wasn’t perfect. But I remember being in the moment. And I want more of that.
After having cancer twice, and having family and friends to love right in front of me, I don’t want to spend the rest of my life: thinking about what to post, feeling I have to be on here to influence, getting dopamine hits from likes or follows, aimlessly scrolling through, or posting my life highlights contributing to a narrative to people which the algorithms may or may not show it to anyways.’
Pressing forward in hope
My vision is anchored in Jesus today, tomorrow and for all eternity. Jesus Christ has been faithful and He will continue to be faithful. Social media has become such a big part of our lives, but I don’t want to miss the lives that are in front of me or squander the gift of time that I have been given.
For now, my focus is sitting at the Lord’s feet, loving my husband and children, looking after the home in which I live, mentoring others, writing and speaking truth and hope (blog, podcast, articles, mentoring), serving those in my church and community, and whatever else God calls me to do – until He calls me home.
I spend more time thinking of eternal truths that will outlast passing cultural trends these days. I have had to really press more into Jesus through my trials, and He always reminds me of His promises. Life is challenging and fleeting, but eternal life in Jesus starts now and carries on forever. I’m interested in storing up treasures in heaven, not on earth.
This may all sound strange to some. I hope that it will encourage many to think about where their hope is now and beyond the grave. The cross of Jesus Christ is what I cling to, His resurrection is what I hope in, and His eventual return and being with Him forever is what I rejoice in.
But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.
Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:7-14
An Anchored Hope 
You must be logged in to post a comment.