Social media can be a useful tool for connecting with friends and family, learning new skills, and building community around positive interests. But it can also expose us to a lot of nonsense.
One great example of this is the abundance of wellness information, or perhaps I should say misinformation, on social media. Anyone with abs and an Instagram account can now be a “wellness influencer” and convince millions that sunscreen is killing you or fruits and vegetables are somehow inedible. Digital false prophets like this have mastered the art of turning our genuine desire for better health into a profitable empire of dubious advice.
These grifters bring to mind the prophets of Baal described in 1 Kings 18. They were loud, charismatic and willing to shock and awe in order to convince their followers that Baal could save them. They understood their audience and created performances that played well to the crowds and made for great stories that people could tell their friends and family. That is, until Elijah called their bluff and provided undeniable evidence that Baal wasn’t real.
Social media influencers are also great at drawing attention and making their content “shareable.” Short videos of extreme, unproven claims grab one’s attention, require far less energy to produce, and spread faster than the longform content necessary to debunk them. Digital algorithms then help ensure that individuals see only certain viewpoints, creating echo chambers where bad advice seems universally accepted. In addition, influencers build one-sided relationships with their audiences, then use that undeserved trust to trigger fears ("This toxin will kill you!") and prey on biases.
At best this results in followers wasting time and money on useless habits and products. At worst, people engage with dangerous practices, develop disordered eating patterns, lose trust in qualified professionals, and even avoid life-saving medical treatments. The prophets of Baal could have never imagined the amount of influence one could wield in the digital age.
So, what do we do? Social media can be a useful tool for connecting with friends and family, learning new skills, and building community around positive interests. But it can also expose us to a lot of nonsense. If you’re not ready to pull the plug on your social media accounts, then consider being more intentional in your use. Be mindful of the amount of time you spend scrolling, unfollow and avoid accounts that focus on fear-based content, and think critically before sharing a video with an unproven claim.
Most importantly, consider the invitation found in Isaiah 1:18: “Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord.” Ask God for guidance and a discerning mind to identify false prophets and seek peace in the spaces you occupy, whether digital or physical.
Rachel Keele is director of University Wellness at Andrews University.
