Facebook fueling Division?

[Josh]

Originally posted on facebook Oct. 10, 2020:

You all know Facebook fuels a lot of our division, right?


I would really like to “stick it to the man” (Zuckerberg) but I’m torn as many of you are, I’m sure.

What you don’t all see is that though I try to be fair and kind and gracious and loving and seem unflappable, some of this stuff just tears me up inside. It takes its toll.

Sometimes I just want to pull the plug but then I hear from someone (usually via messenger because it’s scary and relationally consequential to put yourself out there publicly) about how they too feel like they are caught between and condemned by the right and the left, how they too feel that evangelicals have been seduced by political power and strayed from the gospel, or how they are struggling to not lose sight of Jesus in the midst of all this politick.

And so that keeps me coming back in the hopes of making some kind of difference. I do believe most people on Facebook are stuck rigidly in their beliefs but I do also feel Ike there are some who really want to listen and grow. I want to embody that and I want to be here for you too if that’s you.

[Grimm Reaper]

I agree.

[gregory]

Facebook is an addiction creation tool. It is unhealthy in all forms and does nothing but create anxiety. I recommend everyone to cut it out of your life, and if you have a hard time letting go, or find yourself back on it, you have been captured by the algorithm. It makes us depersonalize others, to not treat them like we otherwise would, and people are not their real selves. They are hyperbolic, they get themselves in cognitive feedback loops leading to radicalization, bit ultimately, it is not much different than being on meth, it makes one insane and destroys their likelihood to interact in the real world and do real help with others face to face.

People are not convinced with facts and logic, they are not won through an appeal to common decency. They are pushed by disgust and hate that arise in others directed toward themselves, and the abuse toward those they care about. And these don't even need to be real, but perceived only. Trans kids and police brutality, pick your perceived abuse, regardless of how rare it really occurs, and I will know how and who you hate in return.

Again, I recommend cutting the chord. It is not a tool for us to use, but a tool that allows us to be used. Counter it by going over to people's houses, having dinner with strangers, host a refugee, show more love.

[moleculeman828]

Facebook always fueling division but sometimes you can find truth in discussion everything happens like G-d wants in the end. I agree also it does.

[Josh]

Man, gregory. Tell us how you really feel I appreciate as always your blunt assessment and agree with much of it. However, similar arguments could be made about all technology. Couldn't we say even these discussion forums might be prone to at least lesser degrees of toxicity? The fact remains for me, though, that I have experienced and gained good things on facebook despite all the above. And I have from time to time seen people change their mind, as they have here, by a careful examination of facts and an application of logic. Agreed, the format is less likely to produce such results than it is in a format like a discussion forum. But still, there isn't really a corner of the world that the Holy Spirit cannot break through. For me, it's not so much a black and white issue, but a weighing of pros and cons.

[robin]

I have twice tried to get into the Facebook thing, but I quickly found that Facebook was not something that I wanted in my life. Can some good come from it, I suppose so. But on par I think it’s been a negative for society. I have read somewhere that Facebook is one of the leading contributors to divorce. Other forms of social media have their own positive and negatives, but Facebook seems to be unique in this way.

[Josh]

Yeah, even though every generation fears new technology, I do think social media is insipidly unique in its ability to influence (and thereby control) mass groups of people.