What kind of social media user are you?

Copy and paste the title sentence in Google and you will find a whole host of social media personalities including the “ranter,” the “informer,” the “lurker,” the “approval seeker,” the “creator,” etc.  I prefer to group them into two types – the egotist and the blesser.

Egotist or blesser?

Every day, wherever you are, your thoughts, words and actions are either motivated by your own ego and self-promotion or by a desire to serve and bless. The same goes for how you use social media.

What kind of social media user are you? Does your mood depend on how many likes and comments you receive? Are you constantly craving more attention, do you feel empty and unsatisfied? Take a minute to think about what motivates you.

When your social media use is ruled by your ego, your “I,” “me,” and “mine,” you quickly become stuck in a labyrinth of discontent, pride, anxiety, superficiality and self-absorption. It’s the same both on and offline. You are unstable – your happiness becomes dependent on how you view yourself in comparison to others, or how others talk about and treat you.

You feel empty.

Thankfully, there’s a way out of this labyrinth of self-absorption.

Find opportunities to bless

“Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.” Philippians 2:3.

Just think how obeying this powerful exhortation can change your actions, and even your thought-patterns! Think, how awesome to have this verse as your goal and guide every day – on and off Internet! Where you once were absorbed with posting the best selfie, or waiting for comments and likes, or chatting superficially with friends – maybe even spreading rumours about others to make yourself look better, you are now looking for opportunities to bless.

Social media – an incredible tool

Instead of having your self-image and your happiness ruled by what you experience on social media, social media becomes an incredible tool. You forget about yourself and your image and you find ways to lift up the others. Instead of becoming envious of someone’s post of their latest purchase or vacation or whatever it is you are usually envious of, you rejoice with those who rejoice! Where you once were annoyed or indifferent to someone who is in a rough patch, you pray for them and find a way to bless them! You send encouraging messages instead of backbiting. You remember people on their birthdays. You write positive comments. Such simple, little things can have a huge impact.

The choice is yours

We are egotists by nature, and it doesn’t come naturally to bless and to love and esteem the others better than ourselves. Our own ego, our sinful nature needs to be constantly crucified with Christ. (Galatians 2:20) But this is something you can consciously decide, by faith, to do, and God is ready, just waiting to help you each time you are tempted, and bless you in return!

What kind of social media user are you? It’s your choice! Choose to be a “blesser,” and you will quickly find ways to bless – both on and off social media!