Social Media Engineered to Expose Our Idols

Doom Scrolling

Social media platforms have been intentionally and very meticulously engineered to keep us hooked. They tap into our most personal interests and entice us to discover new attractions. Without our knowing, this approach is exceedingly effective at feeding our idols. The Bible warns us about the dangers of idolatry, which can be understood as anything that takes the place of God in our lives.

These apps employ sophisticated algorithms that analyze our behavior: what we like, share, comment on, and even the time we spend on different posts. By monitoring our interactions, they identify our idols—be it celebrities, hobbies, or other interests. Consequently, they curate our feeds to continuously show us content that aligns with these preferences, creating an endless cycle of engagement.

If we wonder who or what our idols are, a simple glance at our social media feed can provide the answer. The content we see is a direct reflection of our inclinations and even obsessions. When we find ourselves frequently seeing posts about a particular celebrity, lifestyle, or trend, it is because that algorithm has detected our fascination with those topics and is feeding into it (see: How Does David’s Experience With His Own Self-deception Compare to What We Do When We Deny Our Sin?).

This tailored content strategy is designed to be addictive. The constant reinforcement of our favorite pockets of society keeps us engaged, making it difficult to put down our devices. Social media companies thrive on capturing our attention as consistent use of these platforms leads to higher advertising revenue.

In Exodus 20:3-5, we are commanded, "You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God." This passage highlights the importance of keeping our focus on God rather than on earthly idols. Furthermore, in Colossians 3:5, we are instructed to "put to death therefore what is earthly in [us]: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry." The pursuit of our idols on social media leads to covetousness and distraction, pulling us away from our spiritual values and responsibilities.

One prevalent form of idolatry on social media, perhaps the most prevalent, is sexual temptation. Whether it is provocative photos, suggestive advertisements, or the pervasive culture of influencers sharing intimate aspects of their lives, these elements can hold our attention and lead us into temptation. This can foster unhealthy desires and behaviors at the expense of our relationship with God (see: How does Scripture Describe Improper Desires for Physical Pleasure?).

Even through our struggles with idolatry, God is faithful to pursue us in His love. By this we are reminded of the forgiveness and redemption available to us through Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 2:24 states, "He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed." No matter how deep our addictions and obsessions may be, we have the opportunity to turn back to God's loving arms and receive His grace.

Idolatry powers the addictive nature of social media as the platforms smartly serve us the content we crave the most. By understanding this mechanism and reflecting on scriptural teachings, we can be more mindful of our social media consumption and its impact on our spiritual lives. Let us remember that forgiveness is always available to us through Christ.