When I was a kid, we played outside. That was a way of life (and often the reason why I didn’t like homework – it robbed me of my play time). Playing was fundamental in developing my current ability to safely navigate this world and the society that populates it.
Recent global studies have shown that kids spend way more time indoors, preferring video games (bias towards boys) and social media (bias towards girls) to outside play. The result is a massive increase in anxiety and depression. Well-intentioned parents think they are protecting their kids from harm outside of the home, so they encourage this behavior. However, this strategy has backfired. Parents have inadvertently led their children into arguably the most unprotected area of this world, technology. For example, the Internet has very few guardrails in place to keep children from adult websites and even online gamers can have perverse conversations with strangers logged into the same server.
There’s a plethora of online fantasy worlds ready to be explored, whether it’s online gaming or social media, where avatars reign supreme. Even books are easier to gain access to with e-readers, like Amazon’s Kindle. The issue is that fantasy is replacing reality. As a result, people are more anxious and depressed (especially young people) than ever before.
In small doses, most people are fine with suspending reality to watch/read a story (Harry Potter comes to mind). However, this isn’t what is happening. Studies have shown that teenagers (those especially vulnerable to media influence) are spending an average of twenty hours a week on social media (that’s half of a “full-time” job). After school and homework, that doesn’t leave much time for reality, does it? It also doesn’t leave much time for the study of God’s Word, either.
So, what do we do now? Well, my thought is that we need to first and foremost be honest about the situation we’re in. We’re spending way too much time on technology and have been for some time now. A recent study points to the year 2010 as roughly when smartphones became much more mainstream. Now, there are even social media apps available at one’s fingertips.
Is there a certain utility we might assign to smartphones? Sure, in that case the technology has become our slave. It may be an invaluable tool for you at work, for example. But how many of us will admit that the vast majority of time spent on our cell phones is unproductive and ultimately erosive to our happiness?
Am I suggesting you turn off your smartphones. Yup. Once I’m done working in high tech for my secular job, I’m seriously considering going back to a flip phone, which will only have voice and texting (and the texting is difficult). I guess I just don’t trust myself otherwise. I need to take measures to protect myself from real harm. I need maximum focus on what God deems “good”.
Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. Put away from you crooked speech, and put devious talk far from you. Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you. Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure. Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil.
- Proverbs 4:23-27
It’s interesting to think about social media users because beyond the façade usually lurks a miserable person. Just about everyone I’ve talked to about this topic admits the same thing – they feel worse after spending time on social media. What started out as a fun idea has devolved into something perilous and troublesome. People are using this platform to argue over politics, religion, philosophies, and everything in between. It’s soul-sucking.
See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.
- Colossians 2:8
Our duty to the Lord is to keep ourselves “holy”, set apart for God’s purposes.
Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work. So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels.
- 2 Timothy 2:21-23
One last thought worth your consideration. Don’t wean yourself off your bad habits, as if you have the innate strength to do so, do it immediately. If that means something drastic like trading in your cell phone, then do it. If that’s not really an option right now, then find ways to mitigate your exposure. For example, turn off notifications for your social media applications. Jesus said:
Woe to the world for temptations to sin! For it is necessary that temptations come, but woe to the one by whom the temptation comes! And if your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life crippled or lame than with two hands or two feet to be thrown into the eternal fire. And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into the hell of fire.
- Matthew 18:7-9
Paul said:
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
- Romans 12:2
Instead of allowing technology to be your master, take control and put it back in its rightful place, as your slave. Technology has great utility, but it is a double-edged sword in that it represents access to destructive influences (often Internet “influencers” and/or “celebrities”). Do it now. What’s the alternative? More misery???
Love in Christ,
Ed Collins
