Social Media has become part of our very fabric of life... everyone and their grandma is on Facebook, we're tweeting, posting to Instagram and snapping selfies on Snapchat! The writer of this article suggests that instead of posting for the fifteenth time today, we should take a break and ask ourselves these 5 questions:
- Am I Seeking Approval? - If your interaction with the internet is driven by a need for approval, consider healthier ways to address this issue and choose to stop reinforcing the unhealthy ones.
- Am I Boasting? - There’s sharing excitement and then there’s bragging. Examine your motivations and walk away before using social media as the adult version of show-and-tell.
- Am I Discontent? - Are you looking for something “better”? If so, walk away. Nothing you will read, write or see is going to solve this one. Instead, ask yourself why you are discontent and address those needs.
- Is This A Moment To Protect? - Not every great moment needs to be shared. In fact, some of the best times are most enjoyed privately. If we suspend the present in an attempt to capture its beauty in 140 characters or less, we sacrifice our experience of the moment itself. We also rob each other of something that has been lost in our digital age—keeping a handful of memories between us and those we are closest to, or even just between us and God.
- Is It Kind? - Our culture tells us it’s our right to comment on everything, regardless of whether it was addressed to us and without consideration for how it might affect others. What message are we sending?
The writer ends with challenging us to use these questions to help us pause and give ourselves an honest moment to reflect—bringing discernment, love and wisdom to each picture and word we share.
Do you ask any questions before posting to social media? Comment and let me know!
- Rick