Is it Wrong to Use Social Media?

A Biblical Perspective for a Digital World

Mar 14, 2025

Social media's pull is real.

Its magnetic appeal can draw even the most disciplined individuals into an unhealthy habit. The online world dominates far more than most people realize. Even if we recognize how consumed we are by consuming it, escaping its enchantment can feel impossible.

What began with innocent life updates and photo sharing— a convenient way to “reconnect” with ~~anyone we have ever met~~ old friends, and extended family, quickly evolved into what it is today. The current social media landscape is far more treacherous than its earliest versions and seems to be getting more so every day.

Gone are the days of simple connecting (was it ever just that?). For many, updates and highlights have turned into oversharing— from the most mundane to the intimate, our lives are displayed for all the world to see. Under the guise of “authenticity” we are compelled to expose what was once reserved for a small circle of confidants. If it can be monetized in any way, all the better.

Our lives have become a commodity.

We’re constantly being sold. Influencers and ads target our insecurities and promise a better life. And we’re tempted—and often compelled—to act, daring to hope that the latest product, hack, fashion tip, or productivity course will help us become as appealing as everyone on the other side of the screen seems to be.

Ten-second reels keep our minds scattered and feed a craving for more. We are distracted with these little black boxes, driven by likes, followers, and influence. It has fed a culture of comparison, self-centeredness, and a mere illusion of connectedness.

This isn’t a new conversation.

I’m certainly not pointing out something most of us aren’t already keenly aware of…so, why are so many of us still stuck in the unhealthy habit? Have we simply succumbed, convincing ourselves it’s normal?

As much as I wish we could go back to life without social media, I don’t think it’s going anywhere. Of course, we always have the choice to “opt-out1”—something we might actually need to consider, but regardless, we need to know how to navigate this shifting terrain Biblically.

It’s a weighty topic with more than a little nuance. By now, most of us realize that social media is a powerful tool that can be wielded wisely or foolishly, but that doesn’t answer this question I’ve been wrestling with for some time:

Is it wrong for believers [me] to use social media?

I suspect I’m not the only one trying to rightly discern—if you are, too, I’d like to invite you to consider it more deeply with me and see where we land.

Here we go…

We could argue that on its own, social media is not inherently bad (it’s how we use it, right?), but I’m not sure the evidence2 supports that argument well enough. Social media was not designed with the user’s best interests in mind. No matter how innocently it’s been presented, the purpose was never merely to “connect with friends and the world around you.”3 The goal was more nefarious than innocuous. As previously alluded, it mostly comes down to money.

Our attention is worth billions, and the web of founders, investors, and advertisers go to great lengths to keep it despite the damage it’s doing to our health.4 Their bottom line takes priority. They use every bit of information we share to their advantage. What we like and dislike, love or hate, is sold to advertisers who then sell us whatever our habits tell them we’ll buy. It’s a trap designed to use our vulnerabilities as a snare—and we’ve willingly walked right into it. We may instinctively know we’re being held captive, but the powerful dopamine reward we get for staying in the cage makes it nearly impossible to break free. Their fortunes depend on our attention. They’ve designed social media to keep us craving more. It’s intentionally addictive.

The algorithm reads us like a book, ingeniously using the most powerful attention-keeper possible: the appeal to self. It’s hard to walk away from something designed to constantly show us what we’re telling it we’re interested in. We’ve curated our own cage—complicit in our captivity.

There’s enough information documenting the detrimental impact social media has on both mental and physical health for us to question the moral implications of using something proven to be harmful. Most of us have seen at least some of the scientific research, yet we stay.

This should elicit more questions: Are we even considering the moral and spiritual implications? Do we care that it’s impacting mental and physical health? And, why do we keep using social media, even if we know it’s detrimental?

At this point, we can probably acknowledge we’ve fallen prey to their addictive money trap, and admit that maaaybe we use it a little too much, but does that make it wrong to use social media? Aren’t “they” the ones in the wrong by taking advantage of our simple desire to stay connected? What if we’re even using it for good—spreading the gospel, or at least, positivity? Doesn’t the good overcome the bad in that case?

Obviously, there’s more to consider before making a decision.

Thinking Biblically About Social Media Use

Others’ nefarious intentions aside, it’s important to examine our own hearts regarding social media use. For Christians, the Bible should inform how we spend our lives, both online and off. It may not have anything to say specifically about this modern phenomenon, but it has plenty of wisdom through which we can filter anything.

Let’s consider a few scriptures to help us answer our original question:

1: “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” Philippians 4:8

This verse offers a clear standard for what we should put in our minds. A good place to start in determining if it’s wrong to use social media is to honestly assess how the content we consume (or create) measures up to this list.

Often, what initially seems to line up might not be as wholesome as we thought when we consider it a little more deeply:

What appears good and beautiful often tempts us toward envy and discontentment, stirring up an unhealthy/unholy desire for something other than what God has already given us. Those ads can be an annoyance, and we may feel like we can skip right past, but they still leave an imprint. It might be fun to see our friend’s vacation pictures, but do they cause jealousy? Does that sweet post about someone’s high-achieving kids make you even more frustrated or feel hopeless about your kid who might be struggling to simply get by? If so, then, for us, it’s not helping us think about the right things. It’s something to consider.

2: “And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.” Hebrews 10:25

Social media offers a way to stay connected to people with whom we might not otherwise stay in touch. There are real benefits to this, and it does offer a form of connection. But if we’re using it as a replacement for face-to-face connection, then it might not be beneficial. We need real connection. We need to encourage and be encouraged. We need to hug and be hugged. We need to see the emotions flit across faces and hear the subtle shift in voices and be able to respond to be truly connected. A screen doesn’t suffice. The connection social media offers is an illusion. Most of us are more “connected” and more isolated than ever before. If the online world keeps us from the real world, it might not be the right choice for us.

3: “You shall have no other God’s before me.” Exodus 20:3

Social media can easily become a god. Anything that gets prioritized above God should be something we are willing to cast aside. When the pull of the screen is stronger than our desire for God’s Word and time with Him in prayer and worship, it might be a dangerous choice for us.

I’ve had many conversations highlighting this issue—many believers, myself included, have lamented how distracted we get with our phones. The temptation to “just check” quickly eats up precious time we should devote to The Lord or other more meaningful pursuits. How often do we claim we don’t have time to dig deeper into Bible study, etc., but seem to find time to post or scroll many times throughout the day? It’s sad, and a little astonishing how much pull social media can have over our lives. Truthfully, how often do we let it come before God? This is a big one to consider.

4: “He must increase, but I must decrease.” John 3:30

In the same vein, one of the nearly unavoidable byproducts of social media is the glorification of “self.” It’s incredibly easy to get caught up in likes and followers and simply focus on what appeals to our flesh. Remember how the algorithms tailor everything to our interests and desires? I believe that’s the deeper reason we can get addicted to social media so easily— it’s all designed to appeal to “me.”

As we contemplate the implications of using social media, it is important to reflect on whether it strengthens our relationship with Jesus or only indulges our fleshly desires. Does using it cause Him to increase and us to decrease?

Cost-benefit analysis

To be fair, there are some benefits to using social media:

If we have trained the algorithms to mostly show us “good” content, it can be uplifting and helpful. I’ve benefited from following Christian authors and speakers who share deep, often thought-provoking content that has helped me grow spiritually. I’ve also benefited from foster care and adoption communities and resources I wouldn’t otherwise have access to. Marketplace has helped us score some great deals on legitimate needs more than a few times. And I’ve certainly enjoyed seeing updates and pictures from family and friends. These are good things, and I don’t think many would argue it could be wrong when used in this way.

5: “Everything is permissible,” but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible,”but not everything builds up. 1 Corinthians 10:23

So, the question becomes, do the benefits outweigh the cost?

Remember, the costs are fairly high:

It’s a major distraction and can easily consume hours of our lives
It can cause us to be discontent with our lives when we compare them to others’
We can easily become materialistic and tempted by the myriad advertisements
It fosters false feelings of connection/decreases in-person relationships (often to the detriment of our children and spouses)
It may induce anxiety, depression, unrealistic expectations, FOMO (Fear of Missing Out), sleep issues, and general addiction
Social media use can increase and glorify the flesh and decrease our relationship with Jesus. It can quickly become a god.

Let’s pause and honestly consider the costs versus benefits for a minute.

These lists are not comprehensive, but there should be enough here to help us decide how wise it is to use social media.

Here’s my current stance:

Ultimately, it comes down to individual decision and conviction.

I don’t believe there is a one-size-fits-all answer to whether or not it’s wrong to use social media, but I suspect that it’s not the right choice for more of us than we care to admit. Some people have outstanding boundaries and are able to use it wisely and appropriately… but it seems like the majority of us struggle: Social media may serve us in some ways, but more often than not, we serve it.

So, how do we decide which one we are?

By filtering it honestly through the lens of The Word

If the discussion thus far isn’t enough, here are a few more considerations:

6: “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes,
but a wise man listens to advice.” Proverbs 12:15

Sometimes, we believe better of ourselves than is true. We might be tempted to acknowledge the detriment for someone else while convincing ourselves we’re just fine. Others might have more accurate insight about our social media use if we’re brave enough to ask their honest opinion: Do you see me using social media too much/inappropriately, or being unduly influenced? Those closest to us will probably have the most accurate assessment. Be willing to consider their perspectives.

7: “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever.” John 14:16

8: “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth…” John 16:13

Every honest assessment should also include asking the Holy Spirit to speak to us and reveal the truth about how we manage our time, including social media. We should be willing to ask for conviction and not ignore those quiet checks in our spirits if we receive them. He is gracious and will “guide us into all truth” but we must be willing to listen and not “quench the Spirit” (1 Thessalonians 5:19).

9: “Imitate me, as I also imitate Christ.” 1 Corinthians 11:1

10: “Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us.” Philippians 3:17

At first read, these verses might not seem to apply to this topic, but I’ve been thinking about them a lot since doing a long study on Philippians,5 and I think they’re fitting.

All believers are to imitate Christ—that’s not exclusive to Paul. So, all believers should be living lives worthy of imitation.

When I seriously consider this, I evaluate many things differently, including my screen time. Could I, in good conscience, allow someone to imitate how I use social media? Does my use of it reflect Christ? Would I be okay with my kids using it like I do?

My honest answer would have to be, mostly, but not totally.

I was off social media completely for a couple of years, which I loved, but started using it again to supervise my teenager’s account. Because of my time away, my unhealthy habit had already been broken, so it’s been fairly easy for me to stick to my self-imposed <thirty-minute daily limit (but total screen time? That’s another consideration for another day). However, I still notice the tendency toward comparison and consumerism if I hit my limit—and that makes me uncomfortable. Is it truly beneficial?

If, like me, you’re a little uncomfortable about your use of social media, let’s now consider what we can do about it.

Resisting the pull of social media

We’ve established that the allure of social media is powerful. If we need to make a change, we are more likely to succeed if we have accountability.6 We don’t have to try and power through and make changes completely by ourselves, but only if we open up and invite someone to help us or participate with us in setting appropriate boundaries.

For some, it may only be implementing healthier time-limits and unfollowing accounts that might cause discontentment, comparison, or materialism to flare.

For others, it might take the more radical change of eliminating social media completely. (See the Opt-Out-Family for inspiration)

11: ^“If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of the parts of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of the parts of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.” Matthew 5:29-30

To put these verses in terms of the topic at hand: If social media causes us to sin—in any way, not just the “obvious” sins, but those we might not care to call sin (slothfulness, envy, discontent, self-interest, etc.)— get rid of it. For it is better to be “disconnected” than to damage relationships with our people and with God—which could ultimately lead us too far down the wrong path.

Proof of the detrimental impact social media has had on individuals and society only continues to rise. It seems we are in desperate times that may call for radical measures. As the Body of Christ, we should lead the way in reforming how we engage with social media and be the first to admit if it’s a problem.

We should live lives worthy of imitation.

I’m not here to dictate how that should look for you— that’s a decision you have the freedom to make with the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Rather, this is an invitation to consider deeply and honestly the impact social media has on your life— spiritually, mentally, physically, and relationally. Does using social media line up with your highest values? Does it lead you closer to Christ, or subtly entice you away? Will your example lead others toward or away from Him?

As believers, we have freedom, but we also have a responsibility to use our freedoms wisely.

12: “For you were called to be free, brothers and sisters; only don’t use this freedom as an opportunityfor the flesh, but serve one another through love.” Galatians 5:13

Are we using our freedoms online to glorify God and lead others toward Him? Is our social media use serving others, or only ourselves?

In conclusion, the decision for whether or not using social media is right or wrong is up to each individual.

The decision requires honest consideration, self-assessment, and prayerful, biblical discernment.

As for me? I truly want Jesus to be my top priority, but I recognize that I still often spend time on so many things that don’t matter. Social media is just the first thing on my list of things I may need to change. I’m committing to praying about it even more, seeking advice and accountability, and taking action if necessary. Will you join me? Let’s commit to keeping Jesus first. He’s always the One Necessary Thing.7