If I’m honest, Facebook is a major trap for me. It’s so easy to turn to Facebook for a brief stimulation, and then get caught in unnecessary scrolling. In a culture that feeds off constant attention and always being plugged in, I’m sure I’m not the only one who struggles with this.
But then, I do acknowledge the positive side of Facebook. A friend once told me that Facebook was a missionary’s best friend. It allows him (and all of us) to keep in touch with friends and family scattered across the world. Facebook, at its best, is a great connection tool.
The problem is, when we abuse Facebook, it becomes destructive, for our lives, relationships, and our spirituality.
Facebook only becomes harmful when we are gluttonous in our use of it.
Gluttony, as defined by the Bible, is the addiction to unnecessary excess. Basically, when we consume more than we need, we are being gluttonous. We are craving more instead of choosing to be satisfied with what we’ve been given.
Gluttony is typically associated with our consumption of food. But with this definition, it also fits our consumption of information as well.
On Facebook, we can be gluttonous when we scroll, read ads, and consume more information than what we need. When we are on Facebook and there’s a little voice in our head that screams, “more!” then we are in danger of being gluttonous with our social media use.
Like I said before, it’s easy to be gluttonous with Facebook, but it endangers our faith, our ability to be still and present with God. Recently, I’ve been thinking of ways I could avoid this gluttonous behavior on Facebook. Here are a few I suggest, from both personal experience and suggestions from friends:
1. Define your purpose in going on Facebook.
A friend told me that he only goes on Facebook to check up on his parents. I instantly appreciated how he established a purpose and stuck to it during his time on Facebook. He said he doesn’t do anything other than what he sets out to do.
Typically, we go on Facebook with no agenda, which means, we can easily be caught in spending too much time consuming needless information. Next time before you go on Facebook, tell yourself what you are exactly going to do, and don’t go on without an agenda.
2. Be quick to notice your surroundings.
It’s easy to get wrapped up in what you are viewing on Facebook. Once you open it up, you slowly get sucked into your newsfeed instead of paying attention to what’s around you.
Lately, I’ve been trying to implement more focus of my surroundings while I’m on Facebook. I try to spend only a few minutes on it, while also being aware of my surroundings. If my wife is next to me, I try my best to not pull up Facebook. This is because I choose to be aware of her and what’s going on around us rather than what’s happening on Facebook.
3. Don’t keep dead relationships.
This is honestly the measure I haven’t tried yet, but I’ve heard from my friends that it works. When you have friends you don’t talk to anymore clogging your newsfeed, delete them. The last thing you need is to be inundated with information about friends from elementary school. Instead, direct that attention to be more focused on those you care about. That way, you won’t be processing so much with Facebook, and you’ll be giving Facebook back its power for true connection.
4. Avoid turning to Facebook for stimulation.
When you are bored, do you ever flip out your phone and go on Facebook? This is a habit caused by your desire for stimulation. I try to fight this desire for stimulation all the time. What I do is try to find stimulation in my immediate environment. For instance, I pull a random book off my shelf, or I write a random thought down in my journal. It’s better to be productive with my need for stimulation rather than quell it with a mindless activity.
5. Set a limit to scrolling.
Scrolling is a danger. Once we get caught scrolling, we can lose track of time. To fight this, I try to set limits. For instance, I only allow myself to scroll down three posts before I catch myself doing it. Or I stop scrolling once I click a link. By setting these limits, I set boundaries to what I consume. It also helps me catch myself when I don’t notice I’m scrolling.
Facebook can either be a tool for connection or a vehicle for gluttony. Let it add value to your life by placing the boundaries that keep it within the former and never the latter.
Photography by William Iven
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