Should the church be on social media? This question has been rumbling around in my communicator brain for some time now. At what point is our presence on a platform complicity with the harm that occurs there?
Whether and how we engage in digital space may be one of those wicked problems where the solution is elusive and imperfect, generating new problems along the way. It’s a complex problem; let me focus on one aspect of social media valued by United Methodists – connection.
Ironically, while social media platforms provide a form of connection, their use often increases feelings of isolation. One way to understand this is by considering the nature of these connections.
People usually invest their resources (like time) disproportionately in things that matter to them. In the real world, these investments often lead to deep relationships nurtured over years, providing blessing and challenge, support and opportunities to grow. It can be painful when these relationships fail or end, yet we know the benefits most often outweigh the risks.
Social media platforms provide a way to cultivate relationships seemingly without a significant investment. Without leaving the comfort of our homes, we can connect with people like old friends or acquaintances from high school and new people who share a common interest. However, the time we invest in social media is often spread over many interactions, leaving these relationships thin or shallow.
If social media platforms were neutral in managing their users’ relationships, both forms of connection would be acceptable and good. The problem lies in how platforms use algorithms to manipulate our engagement, keeping us entertained and outraged for as long as possible to profit from the ads they constantly bombard us with.
The wicked problem today
In the political environment we find ourselves in, we can see the problem. At a time when we need spaces to engage in healthy conversation across divides, we find ourselves firing salvos at each other with only the thinnest of social connections holding us together. The situation is ripe for harm as we share our hot takes and opinions in ways most would rarely do in person.
In addition, these platforms have such a hold on us that we have less time to be present in spaces where deep and meaningful conversations across differences are more likely to occur and be sustained. According to one source, the average adult spends over four hours daily on social media platforms. This number varies by age, individual preferences, and even by study. Still, people are often surprised by how much time they spend when they track their usage.
Healthy communities of faith can provide spaces for impactful and necessary conversations today. Yet, we are competing with easy-to-use and addictive platforms for the precious commodity of time. While social media is far from the only thing competing with faith communities, it is one of the fastest growing and problematic.
Should we be on social media?
As I said at the start, our engagement with social media is a wicked problem. I’m not confident the solution is complete disengagement, but we should be wrestling with how we engage as communities and people of faith.
For individuals, the first step may be doing a personal audit. While apps are available to monitor your device usage, similar utilities are often built into modern mobile operating systems. Beyond time spent, consider and evaluate your connections with people online and in person. Do your interactions reflect how you wish to relate, and are they providing the connections you need to thrive?
For communities, are you on platforms that align with your values? And when that alignment isn’t perfect (life rarely is), is your presence still strategic toward reaching new people and supporting those who call your faith community home?
Well, that’s it for today. I promise to return to this topic again in the future. I would love to hear your thoughts to enrich my perspective for when I do.
Patrick Scriven serves as director of communications for the Pacific Northwest Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church.
