A Blessing or a Curse?!?
Smash the Technopoly!
Who knew that around 50% wish cell phones had never been invented. McLuhan asserts, “Each technology conveys an implicit message that transforms us, instills new desires, and fosters fresh feelings of possibility.” [1]
I like the example of samurais and their use of swords. This example helps us understand how a tool can be used. We can learn not only how to use a sword but also how to control it. Yet, when it comes to smartphones, we struggle to maintain them. Our screen times are longer than they should be because we lose track of all the information and entertainment that comes our way.
The U.S. Surgeon General asserts that social media benefits the younger generation by fostering community, connection, self-expression, and friendships. As an immigrant from another country, I can confidently say that having internet access and the ability to connect with my family and friends has been more important than anything else! However, as a youth pastor, I have noticed that the more our youth utilize technology, the more distant they become from one another. I love taking my youth on hikes, backpacking trips, and anything that involves the outdoors. I can assure you that nothing connects people more than being face to face! Who is our master? Is it God speaking to us through the Holy Spirit, or is it technology that tends to dictate how we perceive this world, ourselves, and others? While I am grateful to have a cellphone (I use it for everything), I purchased physical copies of our readings for this class because I prefer to see and feel the book in my hands, and I can highlight it, too.
The Dark Psychology of Social Networks
Interestingly, this article compares the removal of gravity to the current state of United States politics. Why is that? Didn’t we just read in *Smash the Technopoly* about how social media allegedly helps the youth stay connected? The article focuses on how content is used across various social media platforms. [2]
Who doesn’t love cat videos? I know I’ve wasted plenty of time when dog, cat, or crazy Russian driving clips pop up on my screen. This article discusses how democracy allows us to share online what we want; however, when sensitive comments arise, they tend to be viewed and shared more by others. It’s interesting that social media was created for us to stay connected and share what’s happening in our lives. Unfortunately, due to the events plaguing our world daily, when we share these issues, society often responds with emotions and chaos. On the other hand, we also look for ways to resolve the problems we see in the world that has been presented to us. Anyway, it seems that everyone has become an expert in what is happening, and therefore, we believe that when we see something terrible, we have to make a post or write a story just to let everyone know that we are on the good side and care.
Why the Past 10 Years of American Life Have Been Uniquely Stupid
First of all, I love the title! The comparison of Babylon and confusion to Red America and Blue America is striking. Babylon symbolizes what social media has done to us in the modern world, dividing us and turning us against each other. In January 2025, I decided to start the year by fasting from Instagram and Facebook. I realized that when I wake up or go to bed, the first thing I check in the morning are these two social media accounts. I needed a break, and when I returned to these platforms on February 2nd, I discovered that I hadn’t missed much. Social media, like Myspace and Facebook, used to be harmless, but then users became more comfortable sharing aspects of their personal lives and brands, which makes sense. What else are these websites for? As someone once said to me, there are things that can be shared in public, some only at home, and the most intimate only in the bedroom. People often choose to post on social media out of triggered emotions or a lack of understanding of privacy, sharing their lives for the world to see.
Some of my friends share so much on social media that when I see them in person, I have nothing to ask them about what’s new in their lives because I see everything online. There’s no longer any mystery surrounding their lives, and no excitement for me to ask, “What’s new in your life?” since I already know.
Jonathan Haidt discusses studies illustrating the spread of misinformation. He explains how Facebook and Twitter have upset parents about their children’s frequent use of these apps. He also compares how different countries have been affected in these studies, as well as how institutions and media have influenced our perceptions and understanding of modern education. The fact that we are still debating whether TikTok should be banned is crazy. I do not use TikTok often, so I was somewhat excited when they were about to block this app in the USA; however, several of my friends became viral, and I know how much they benefited from using TikTok and other media outlets.
Thought policing is real. Since the tower fell, Jonathan points out, the two sides have become increasingly confused. Arguments such as the Earth being flat and the theories surrounding 9/11 illustrate the challenges people face. The comparison between the RIGHT and their authoritative tendencies and the LEFT and their activist approaches reflects on each other. For someone like me, who comes from outside the USA, I’ve never understood why there are only two parties. I don’t see why we lack a middle party to unite Americans. There are aspects I agree with from both parties and others I disagree with. My dream is for both parties to find common ground and learn to work together, but unfortunately, I don’t see that happening until heaven and the coming of Jesus. The more we hate each other, the worse things will get. It bothers me that when one party wins, it often dismantles almost everything the other party has accomplished; then when another party wins (in this case, Republicans), they destroy and discard everything Democrats have done. I do not think it is healthy for America to consistently experience such drastic changes, especially when half of the country leans RIGHT and the other LEFT. America is going to fall like Babylon.
AI is About to Make Social Media (MUCH) More Toxic
Everyone in my circle is really excited about AI, and I am too! I still remember discovering ChatGPT; it changed my world by making research much easier and helping me with writing (not for these assignments unless it’s research). In this article, Jonathan Haidt and Eric Schmidt argue that AI is a bad idea. Just as there is much good to be found in media, AI also has positive aspects as it makes life easier, but in this addictive power, they liken AI to a seductive machine for each user. Why read books? Why study? When everything is just a click away with a search button.
Children are exposed to social media. Jonathan and Eric assert that the younger generation uses TikTok more than any other platform. Those who control chatbots could negatively influence children. While this may be true, we can manage and limit what can be searched and accessed through AI. We can find drawbacks in everything good that exists, yet we don’t cancel everything. Unfortunately, we live in a flawed world, and the enemy will continue to turn something good into something evil. We only lose when we stop fighting for what we believe is right and good. I appreciate how Jonathan and Eric provide us with a way to address the potentially harmful aspects of AI that are already causing problems. One approach is to voice concerns about wrongdoing; another is to recognize when something is damaging our lives and propose solutions to combat these issues and make improvements.
End The Phone-Based Childhood Now
As we increasingly leverage technology, our productivity improves. Jonathan Haidt argues that technology affects friendship, dating, sexuality, and identity. People who spend a significant amount of time on social media often experience higher levels of depression, date less frequently, and engage in social activities less than they did before social media became prevalent. Jonathan also contends that physical exercise and outdoor play add excitement while developing social, emotional, and physical skills. I couldn’t agree more with him. I was born in the early nineties, and our only social activities involved climbing trees, playing soccer, and getting into trouble with the neighbors by hitting their windows with a ball. My parents would take all four boys (my brothers and me) to the countryside, where we had to do manual labor in the fields. It wasn’t easy, but it was healthy.
In 2003, over 50 percent of households owned a computer. It helped people connect with their friends, but their time on those computers was limited. I still remember having a dumbphone; I thought it was the coolest thing ever. It took me ages to type and send a message. Yet the faster and easier our phones became to use, the more we forgot what it felt like to be outdoors.
Henry David Thoreau hits the nail on the head when he stated, “The cost of a thing is the amount of life that must be exchanged for it; the opportunity cost of any choice.” Galatians 6:7-9 discusses how what we sow is what we will reap.[6] So, “How much of life is exchanged for all the screen time?” It doesn’t seem like we are doing much to help people reduce their screen time. We have become so accustomed to using our phones and computers that our lives without them feel neglected. How else can we do our jobs, hold meetings without Zoom, or engage in politics without our daily news? All five articles point to one thing: prioritizing our lives. So, is technology a blessing or a curse? The answer is YES.
[1] After Babel Substack. Smash The Technopoly! Neil Postman, Marshall McLuhan, and The Anxious Generation. Dec. 19, 2024.
[2] https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2019/12/social-media-democracy/600763/
[3] https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2022/05/social-media-democracy-trust-babel/629369/
[6] The Bible, Galatians 6:7-9
About the Author
Ivan Ostrovsky
8 responses to “A Blessing or a Curse?!?”
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Ivan,
I appreciate you sharing your personal decision to step away from social media for two months. Can you share a little more about that experience? What did you fill the time with, and did you notice any change in how you navigated relational connections?
Also, what do you think would happen if you asked the youth you work with to do it?
I am interested in your perspective because a clear case has been made about the need to do something, yet as a society, we seem stuck regarding “how we go about addressing it.”
I have noticed my friends stepping away from social media and how much it has benefited their personal lives. When 2025 began, I decided to take a break from Instagram and Facebook. I realized that every morning when I wake up and every evening before I go to bed, I check both of these platforms. It wasn’t easy at first, but it soon became a habit. Interestingly, since I wasn’t using Instagram and Facebook, I found myself spending much more time on YouTube, lol. I also filled my time with reading, finishing projects I wanted to complete, and focusing on my doctoral program. So, I wasn’t completely off the internet, but I am still grateful that I took that pause and rested from my regular routine.
If I asked my youth to do the same thing, it would be cool if they were all committed, but in reality, it is not an easy thing to ask of them. I know this because I have asked them in the past, and only a few would take on the challenge, and the reason would be that they would receive a mysterious prize.
Ivan-
First, the disclaimers. I am an introverted engineer. I don’t have accounts on TikTok, Snapchat, or X. I get on Facebook once every three months. These decisions are based on time prioritization more than anything else.
You share both the good and bad for being connected. I’m most curious about your perspective on having little to talk about because everything is already revealed on social media. As a pastor to youth, do you feel that your decision to fast made you more connected or less? Did you benefit more because you had to ask open-ended questions or did you suffer because you weren’t current with your youth? I can be completely disconnected from life because, well, that is how the world views engineers!
I love the fact that you are an engineer! We need more people like you!
You’re not missing out by not having the social media accounts you mentioned! While it can be enjoyable to see photos of your loved ones and friends, unfortunately, social media is becoming increasingly political, turning into a discussion panel for hot topics where it’s tough to express authentic opinions without facing backlash.
To answer your questions:
• Do I think my decision to fast made me feel more connected or less?
o Neither. When I disconnect from social media, I wonder how my young people are doing! So, the next time I see them, I will have something to ask them about their life because I miss them.
o In another case, having social media is beneficial for me because I can see what they post. This way, I learn about their likes and dislikes, and I can stay connected to their lives. When I see them in person, I can congratulate them on getting their driver’s license, or for a trip they just took, or for other accomplishments and life updates.
• Did I benefit more because I had to ask open-ended questions, or did I suffer because I wasn’t current with my youth?
o It was only one month, so I didn’t miss much of what was happening in the world. But it does make me wonder what is going on and what I am currently missing.
Thank you for your questions!
First and most importantly, I have spent way too many hours watching cat videos! They are so cute and obnoxious, it has become a great way (maybe not a healthy way) for me to veg out.
I love how you bought in Galatians 6 on what we sow is what we reap. That is such a key scripture we can use to evaluate a media balanced life. I also love how you applied the spiritual into this hard topic. When you asked, “Is it God speaking to us through the Holy Spirit, or is it technology that tends to dictate how we perceive this world, ourselves, and others?”, I was hit in the face with how relevant this question is. Sometimes I live a digital led life without even knowing it. To live a Spirit led life I must often ask myself what is dictating how I perceive and interact with others.
I remember the 90’s when I would be out all day riding bikes with friends, going on adventures and playing a neighborhood wide manhunt game at night. You mentioned some outdoor activities, but do you have more Ideas of how to engage our youth in social activities like this?
Absolutely! Cat videos are a great stress reliever!
The 90s were fantastic because it was just before the revolution of fast computers and smartphones! Dumbphones existed, and they performed their role effectively for making calls and sending messages, and that was about it.
How to engage our youth – Based on my experience as a youth pastor, I love taking them into the woods, mountains, and water for activities like hiking and retreats! When I bring them into nature, there is usually no internet or only a very slow connection. This is a great way to shift from screens to actually engaging with others by looking them in the eye. Some of my best theological conversations with my youth happen in nature. Those conversations always start with them, not me. The best moments include experiencing clean air, sunshine, birds (and occasionally bears), water, conversations, sharing stories, eating Top Ramen, making fires, playing board games, laughing, worshiping, singing, and more.
Ivan, I appreciate the way you closed by summarizing the warning of these articles to be about prioritizing our lives. I hadn’t thought about it in those terms. But you are spot on—we need to prioritize real-life connections over technology and online presence. (Can you really be present online anyway when you are presenting a curated version of yourself or your ideas?) There is a strange balance between being silent out of fear of being “canceled” and sharing every detail of your life. I tend to lean to the more cautious side. But like you said, maybe that means my close friends get to ask more questions about my life in person.
I am curious. In what ways are you prioritizing your life with your phone these days?
Thank you for your comment, Mika!
To answer your question, I’ll be honest: I’m always on my phone—whether I’m talking to someone (for work or family), trading stocks, checking social media and emails, or playing Settlers of Catan, Sudoku, and more! To take a break from my phone, I have to put it on silent or do not disturb. Even with that, it’s really hard for me to do so because of my work and responsibilities. It’s not due to a “Savior” mindset; rather, I plan a lot of events and need to piece together the puzzle. I did take a full month off from Instagram and Facebook, which helped me stay away from constant checking.