Why I'm Finally Giving Up Social Media For Lent
By Marissa Zimmet
Growing up, my parents didn’t allow my brother and I to have social media, even in high school. When I finally created my own Facebook account, I felt liberated, happily on the same level as my friends.
Perhaps late coming to social media made me aware of using it wisely. Having friends in time zones across the country, it’s a blessing to have social media as a means to share updates without taking extra time to send out individualized announcements for things like getting a pet, accepting a new job, or travel adventures.
My accounts are authentic. I share what I discern the Lord is calling me to share about my life: the good, the bad, the daily musings--without it becoming a personal diary. This includes my faith journey, celebrations, heartbreaks, quality family and friend time. I am conscientious of trying not to compare how many likes I get on each photo, or spark any controversy or arguments with my posts. Because of my honest approach, I never thought about giving up social media for Lent.
I’ve never considered my use of social media to be an issue in my life that’s created drama or turmoil that spills into my daily life. I’ve heard stories like this, however, and try to avoid this. Yes, there’s been a time or two when I see posts that gave me FOMO, or that hurt me because I wasn’t invited to something; but they make me realize which friendships are real, and which have been superficial so I am grateful for that.
Until recently, I had been using social media as a way to take a little break or find something new. I’d look for a workout to try, a recipe to put my own spin on, podcasts or celebrities to follow, Catholic artists to help deepen my faith. I would justify it by saying I’m looking for ways to improve my life. And where I used to think well, I’ll just hop on for only five minutes or so, more and more that five minutes becomes half an hour- or even an entire hour-with my mind solely focused in the cyber world.
I realize that I officially use social media as a way to escape: to fill a void whenever I have downtime. If I have a spare moment at work, or I feel stressed, it’s scroll, scroll, scroll.
And while scrolling, my thoughts go something like:
“I’m not doing enough to live out my faith.”
“I wish I could be more talented so I can do something as good as this person.”
“My words and thoughts are never as beautifully said as this person’s.”
“I’ll never be as good at running/working out/sports, etc. as her.”
I admit it, I’ve fallen into the dangerous trap of social media comparison and mindless content entertainment. We all do it - sometimes without realizing it. We try to rationalize it in our heads (see earlier, when I was trying to convince myself it’s okay to follow more accounts if it means I’m looking for ways to improve myself and my life).
I think it was inevitable at some point, falling into this vortex. It’s human nature to want to make connections, to crave validation, to be seen by others - yes, even digitally. It is our demons that whisper to us thoughts of comparison, of thinking we’re in competition with all those “connections”, and making ourselves think we’re not good enough or as worthy or holy as the person with four hundred likes on their photo or a verified check beside their handle.
Social media takes our attention away from hearing and being present to the voice of God. We’re too busy trying to connect digitally, so we have no time to make real, physical connections with the people that we come in contact with at work, on our commute, or just in passing on the street. Our minds have become used to cramming every spare moment with more content and information by simply opening a new app to find out what others are posting. We’re multitasking our minds to virtual oblivion, and missing out on real life and seeing the eyes of Jesus in the people around us.
And so, I will be giving up social media for Lent to be present to what is going on in my real life, not consumed with my online presence. I find myself not able to focus on meditation or silencing my mind to hear God’s voice because of my constant use of social media and the need for constant stimulation. My mind starts to wander, and I can’t ever turn it off or focus long enough to stand still and just be in God’s presence. Silence has become deafening. I want to change that.
In this world where most of the population lives online, we need to remember that God created humans to be in community. To love one another. We can truly only find this when being present and authentic with others, live and in person. We are meant to share God’s light with people.
During Lent, I will greet these silences with joy and revel in living simply in order to better hear God’s voice in the whispers of the wind, the stillness of my mind. And pass it along to those around me.
I invite you to pray for what you truly need to sacrifice this Lent. It may not be social media. It may be something else that you use as an escape from daily life. Embrace what God is calling you to, for you never know how much it might grow your faith and deepen your connection to God.
