Last week, we started this series talking about having the ‘right analogy’ in your mind and heart about what social media actually is. You should go back and read that if you haven’t, as it’s critical to the whole series. Social Media – Part 1
But for a refresher: The main point was that posting on social media is like being at a big surprise birthday party, an extended family reunion, or a huge wedding reception, where the degree to which you know people is from close friend to never met.
And as Christians, we need to be aware that many of us will tend to treat social media more like a gathering of close friends, a church home group, or a presbytery meeting lunch conversation.
This week, we want to flesh out the implications of that, not to belabor, but to make clear before we move on to other topics.
Here’s the problem: You don’t know what you don’t know.
If you are writing on social media like you are talking to a group of people you know, you don’t see how it was received by the people who are ‘listening to’ and watching the conversation that you will never hear from.
We all know that it’s one thing to post something we believe or think, and to have somebody you know who differs ready to jump in and write a long comment or take a jab at you. We also know what it’s like to write quicker than we should have or take our own jab—however much in a more ‘christianly’ manner than that other person. : )
But what we don’t know is how the people we don’t even know will see our posts will take it. Are you aware that many friends of friend’s friends will see your post? The algorithms are all different, but sometimes if your friend likes or comments on your post and it’s a popular post, many of their friends will see that post on their feed.
Now think about that. Can you see why the analogy is a birthday party, reunion, or wedding reception and not church home group or backyard fire pit?
The same happens when you comment on a friend’s or friend’s friends’ post; the audience that sees that is wider than any party or reception.
Let’s make it concrete: What happens if you post or comment on a post sharply about how evangelical worship is a circus? Who sees that? Who is offended and now closed to hearing about more biblical worship? What friend of a friend sees that and commits in their heart to ‘never go to that person’s church’ even though their neighbor invites them?
Maybe a little more controversial: Would you walk into a party or wedding reception, tap your glass, and declare to everyone as your first interaction with most: God only accepts the worship he has declared?
Now, let’s be very clear: Nobody is suggesting you are censored on social media or should avoid a list of controversial topics. The only thing we are talking about is how to talk about things, when to talk about things, and the context of talking about things.
There is a scenario at the wedding reception where someone you don’t know pulls you aside and says, “I know [person you have in common] told me you are a Christian and I had a question that I don’t feel like I can ask anyone….. the person asks about Christianity or some controversial cultural topic and we all know how we would lovingly deal with them and show empathy and explain clearly and not add offense to our answer.
That’s a good way to think about how you talk on social media as Christians.