Don't be foolish with your Social Media

One of the many concerns I have is the way people use social media, especially parents. I have noticed more and more lately of posts on Facebook for example, that of missing children, and me being a parent myself this hit home more as that would just devastate me if such a thing would happen to one of my children. Questions like “Where is my child?”, “Is my child OK?” and never finding out.

I am not saying that the posting of photos on social media is to blame, but it surely must play a part in these type things happening as well as other things like house robberies and so forth. Now, God did not make us stupid, but in our vanity, selfishness, wanting to share everything with world, we end up in a place where common sense just flies out the window. We sit with people on the web looking for victims, pedophiles and rapists searching for potential victims and photos of little children in a bath for example, or ladies who get themselves ready to go have a good time dancing, and flagging where they are going or are, makes it so easy, especially when the private settings are not secure. (By the way, our popularity is not measured by how many friends you have on Facebook!!!) 

Therefore, when we want to post photos on social media platforms, I think there are a few questions we need to ask ourselves: Does this photo or post truly reflect me, in other words, is it a picture that reflects vanity or selfishness. Can this photo or post put me in harm’s way, for example, give a way where I live or work? Can this photo of my children been seen as potential child pornography, which can lure unwanted attention or get myself into trouble with the law?

Our children, especially when little, do the cutest and funniest things, and they happen to be naked and we take a pic as the thing they did was cute, but that photo can cause a lot of problems. Does this photo or post give the location of my child’s school? Also, what is this thing where mommies make their little girls do poses so they can take pics for social media posting? A very silly thing to do!!

In the end, what I am saying is that we all need to use our head before we post on social media. Also, especially when we feel emotional. The same applies to other social media platforms, being it WhatsApp Status, Instagram, TikTok and so forth. If you are not willing to do those things or say those things face to face to other people, don’t do it on social media.

Be blessed,
Rev. AR Jansen