Like many of you I engage with Social Media all day – in one form or another- and until recently it was a large part of my job! So I was paid to be on FaceBook, Instagram and Twitter !
Along the way I have developed a few internal principles I use to guide me – they mean I have boundaries that are in place to help me navigate the wild and wonderful world that is social media
1. Be kind
Thats it – just be kind. Don’t be mean and vindictive. Don’t shame people publicly. Be kind.
2. Be generous
I LIKE lots of things and i comment when somethings wonderful .
I see it as a very simple way to give people a little bit of encouragement – we all need a little bit of encouragement.
3. Be positive.
I always make sure anything I put up ,even if it is about a tough situation, has Hope in it.
I don’t ever put up my personal struggles. I have close friends and family for that. Random people following me on Instagram may be lovely but they haven’t earned the right to my heart.
4. Don’t get involved in other people’s arguments
I don’t have the time or the energy – and I am not sure it is good use of either. I run away from quarrels and controversy on social media.
I know who I am, I do best if I can sit and talk through an issue face to face.
5. Don’t compare.
We all only put up the photos that make us look young, hip, hide our double chins and make our lives look fabulous . So does everyone else. Stephen Furtick says it best “Don’t compare your behind the scenes life to some-one else’s highlight reel”. Instagram is not real life ! Enjoy your own, in the moment, life, don’t let comparisons rob you of it. (This is a work n progress for me)
and a bonus
6. Take a break
Make sure you schedule Social Media Breaks – holidays, Sabbaths – whatever works for you. So you have a time where you disconnect and let your soul restore itself from the input overload.
I often wonder how Jesus would have used Social Media. One thing I know – he would have used it to reach people with the Love of the Father – but not in some cheesy christian cartoon !!
Any principles you would like to add ?
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