This is part 5 in a series of posts.
Part 1: Introduction | Part 2 – Biblical Principles at Stake: Godliness | Part 3 – Biblical Principles at Stake: Relationships | Part 4 – Biblical Principles at Stake: Stewardship | Part 5 – Biblical Principles at Stake: Joy & Peace in Christ | Part 6: Why is Social Media & Technology so Addicting? | Part 7: Applications
This material was first presented in a talk at First Baptist Church in Durham, N.C. Watch it here.
In Romans 15:13 Paul prays that God would fill the Roman Christians “with all joy and peace in believing.” Jesus said the result of remaining in Him would be that Christ’s joy would be in us and our joy would be full (John 15:11).
Yet, the statistics linking mental health issues to smartphones are staggering.
The Atlantic ran an article in 2017 entitled Have Smartphones Destroyed a Generation?[1] The author cites studies that show a relationship between increased smartphone use and depression and suicide rates. She says the obvious solution would be to use smartphones less, but that doesn’t seem a viable option to many. Consistently studies show a decline in mental health after smartphones became ubiquitous around 2012.[2]
What about smartphones and social media causes some to experience increased depression and anxiety?
Part of the reason is smartphones cause people to miss out with greater potency than ever before. It used to be kids didn’t get invited to a party and that was that. Now they don’t get invited to a party and see all the pictures and videos of people at the party on social media. Not only are they not invited, but they are forced to watch it outside through the window of social media.
But even when they are at the party it’s anxiety inducing because of pressure to post pictures and videos that are the envy of everyone.
For years I led trips to summer camps with many high school students. We would always collect cell phones for the week and the last night of camp kids would all say they were dreading getting their phones back because of the overwhelming pressure and anxiety of posting and fighting for likes.[3]
This is also one of the reasons Sherry Turkle argues that people shaped by social media are less emotionally resilient.[4] According to Turkle, they lack the ability to handle rejection and emotional hardships because they are so used to depending on constant encouragement and likes.
Boredom
Yet, anxiety and depression aren’t the only ways technology can affect people emotionally.
There is reason to believe technology exacerbates boredom in people including kids. Andy Crouch suggests that rather than using screens in a way that is limitless and isolating we should use them intentionally and for meaningful purposes that bring people together.[5] The effect is that the more we entertain kids, especially on screens, the more bored they get. It can hinder their ability to think creatively and develop valuable skills. It also dampens their interest in exploring or going to places that provide true wonder and endless entertainment like nature.[6]
We miss so much when we live on our screens.
The heavens declare the glory of God, but can we hear its sermon over the noise of our phones? God promises to keep those in perfect peace whose mind’s are stayed on him, but are our minds parked on our phone exacerbating anxiety, depression and rejection?
So, we see that technology and social media can have vast effects on us spiritually and emotionally as well as our ability to steward our time and abilities well. Maybe we agree but still can’t resist technology’s pull. Why is social media and technology so addicting? We’ll look at that in the next post.
Part 1: Introduction | Part 2 – Biblical Principles at Stake: Godliness | Part 3 – Biblical Principles at Stake: Relationships | Part 4 – Biblical Principles at Stake: Stewardship | Part 5 – Biblical Principles at Stake: Joy & Peace in Christ | Part 6: Why is Social Media & Technology so Addicting? | Part 7: Applications
[1] Jean Twenge, “Have Smartphones Destroyed a Generation? – The Atlantic,” The Atlantic, accessed August 9, 2017, https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2017/09/has-the-smartphone-destroyed-a-generation/534198/.
[2] Newport, Digital Minimalism. 106
[3] Newport. 150, Cal Newport mentions a similar example at a summer camp.
[4] Turkle, Reclaiming Conversation. 70.
[5] Crouch, The Tech-Wise Family. 33.
[6] Crouch. 139.
Mike McGregor
Mike McGregor (MDiv, Reformed Theological Seminary) is Director of College Ministry at First Baptist Church in Durham, N.C. You can follow him on Twitter at @m5mcgregor.
