Absolom Lubwama
People who subscribed to the gospel of Jesus Christ’s impending return have been living on tenterhooks ever since his resurrection, constantly aware that the world is going to end. But since then, new inventions that give the impression that the devil has run out of time and is making an appearance in person have caused both confusion and confirmation of his return in every generation.
Some religious people questioned whether Chloe Lopez, a British influencer, was engaging in some sort of immoral ritual intended to change the beliefs of her followers after she was seen in a recent video post taking off her underwear on an escalator and leaving it as a donation in front of a children’s play area. Some Christians think that we have descended much lower than Sodom and Gomorrah and that God is no longer able to tolerate the “political correctness” that social media has so brilliantly advanced while rejecting biblical morality and principles.
The Rise of Plastic Lives and Influencers
In contrast to the “teenage girls’ diaries of pre-social media times,” when a girl would download her real thoughts and life onto paper, the lives portrayed on social media are plastic—full of filtered photos, videos, and idealized lives that are far removed from reality. A new profession known as “influencers” is becoming more popular. The more followers one has, the more influence one has. They get paid to use posts to sway the opinions of their followers. The problem with this group is that many have exploited the freedom of “free speech” by posting things without editing and without regard for morality.
The works of “self-seekers,” who purport to receive funding to inflame conflict, are displacing the sincere calls for change made by social media activists. Under their heavily edited photos, which resemble advertisements for their faces or bodies, they post a few words. A personality cult that values personality over ideology has sort of emerged as a result of this.
As if not enough, street riots in Africa that have resulted in the overthrow of some governments have been intensified by influencers who post from the comfort of their homes or hotels, only to witness the carnage on the streets that results in many fatalities and little to no change in people’s lives once the storm passes.
The Influence of Influencers via Social Media
Many fans treat every post made by influencers as gospel truth, holding onto it religiously. This has encouraged a self-righteousness that does not allow for thoughtful discussion or tolerance of the views of others. Their line of defense when confronted with thoughtful discourse and met with resistance is to resort to insults, personal attacks, and vulgarity.
There is not enough time to process one piece of information before another is dangled in front of the public due to the abundance of information available. Adults and children alike are spoiled for choice, much like children in a candy store, except this time, the brains are in danger of decaying instead of teeth.
The public’s relationship with social media has instead become that of a drug addict using a syringe and needle, despite health experts’ warnings about the dangers of spending extended amounts of time on phone screens and teachers’ concerns about students deserting creativity in favor of AI and other apps providing research. The public is now susceptible to propaganda because social media has a powerful hold over their minds.
The Commodification of Social Media Influence
While some have found a ready market for the products they sell to their followers, the wise ones are preying on the credulous public. That the public now lives a life akin to that of the chimpanzees at Gamba Island Sanctuary is a sad development—paid enough to keep them employed and alive, but also putting goods and entertainment in front of them to steal all of their earnings.
The online sex trade has spread like wildfire throughout society, accompanied by profanity, nudity, and pornography. Because of an inferiority complex, everyone lives a forced existence. Individuals are competing with one another to show that they are superior, more informed, and more exposed than the other. Children easily gain access to their parents’ phones, breaking passwords and exposing themselves to adult content kept in the phone’s archives.
Reversing the Trend
Finland and Austria are reversing their previous policy of permitting students to use digital devices in the classroom, while African nations are approving students’ use of phones in the classroom, even though adults, such as teachers, have failed to exercise self-control when using the devices.
The choice Is before us: to pick the best out of social media and leave the rest.
