The dangers of Facebook

Like many of you out there, I have a Facebook account. In fact, I can probably lay claim to, initially, being one of it's most enthusiastic users and supporters. I was hooked on it to a degree like no other and often wondered what the world would be without it.

Actually, it would be no better or worse.

Really, you say? What made me change my mind? After one gets over the usual euphoria or being 'in-touch' in a social network, the novelty wears off when one is constantly addicted to the 'thrill' of playing with new applications, adding new friends, placing updates about yourself etc.

In other words, it's all about satisfying your ego again.

What else would motivate you to update others about your life on a constant basis? Do I really need all my friends to know that I had a tough day? Why don't I take it to God instead in prayer, lamentations and exhortations. The reason for why one doesn't do it has always been the same: people only care about themselves and they want others to care about them. But God doesn't feature in there at all

It is a practice that is self-seeking and self-glorifying. The more I update, the more I revel in myself; good or bad. And pretty soon, everyone's raving on about ourselves. Add to that the countless hours that are spent playing around with useless applications and it becomes even more distressing when we consider that those times could have been better spent reading God's Word, spreading the Gospel or in earnest prayer.

No matter how you slice and dice it, unless you tell me that you are running a ministry or counselling someone over Facebook (which is quite possible and therefore a couple of redeeming features characteristic of the system), it remains a tool of destructive distraction that would seek to take you away from building the Kingdom of God