“Had my first encounter with a grizzly bear when I went to go fishing early this morning. As if that wasn’t exciting enough, I then lost my foothold and fell into the cold river…”
“I just wanted some decent fruit…the café had peaches and plums today…my punishment for being greedy and taking a million of them? No way to transport them, resulting in cuts on my plums and a sticky Bible…”
We’ve all read these random and ridiculous updates from our friends on Facebook and other modern social networks. On any given day, I can go to my Facebook page and know that a grizzly almost ate my friend, or that my other friend attempted to steal from the café and got what she deserved. We know what our friends are up to and what they’re thinking at the present.
The problem with these social networks is that employers or parents can go on Facebook and look at our profiles if they are not set to private. And depending on what they see, they may be impressed or upset.
Parents are especially culprits when it comes to stalking their adult children online and some students get very angry about it. After all, we’re adults and wish to be treated as such. But as people who are engaged in a social network, can we expect to have privacy from others? As Christians?
As humans we have certain inalienable rights, but we also have common sense. If mom or dad is stalking you online, then set your profile to private and express how their over-protectiveness upsets you (invoke Ephesians 6:4 on them) and ask them to trust you. As Christians, we can and should expect privacy from other human beings. But from God? Good luck with that one.
There is an appropriate time and place for everything, so I suggest you use common sense when it comes to sharing your life with your social network. After all, you never know who is reading your posts. If you enjoy privacy, then reset your social network settings–– or find another way to tell your friends about your life. If you really don’t care who can see what you are posting, then this doesn’t apply to you. As with any technological device, use the common sense that the good Lord gave you.
