The age of social media and influencer culture has undoubtedly impacted nearly every aspect of our lives. The incorporation of online social platforms and instant access to the rest of the world has influenced the way we now communicate, market brands/products and connect with others. Influencer culture derived from social media has changed the ways of modern society, but how has it affected our faith?
While the influencer concept was originally adopted to persuade and motivate audiences in certain directions, the impacts of this new culture have been endless. Utilizing popular faces and names to attract new audiences and transfer reputations from people to products on social media has been an incredibly effective marketing tool in the recent years. But our obsession with influencer culture also has its immense flaws.
Society’s fixation with social media has a way of diminishing one’s sense of value and blocking our identities in Christ. With popular social media icons also comes audiences who struggle with comparison, envy and unrequited attention. Social media becomes about numbers — the amount of followers and likes one receives, and numbers become about us as individuals, not God. The concept of sharing ideal life moments and photos has birthed a self-absorbed society seeking worldly affirmation— a way of living that is completely opposite of what the Bible calls us to.
Naturally, we as human beings often yearn for what we don’t have. When we seek out the desires of our flesh and what we think we want, we are never fulfilled. Many celebrities and influencers who seemingly “have it all” have even expressed their feelings of emptiness and discontentment. Worldly things will cause us to lose our passion for the Lord and in turn never find fulfillment. Luke 8:14 says that “all too quickly the message is crowded out by the cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and so they never grow into maturity.” As we continue to dwell in this influencer culture, we will continue to be a society that looks to others to tell us what we need or what we are lacking.
Popular singer, dancer and internet personality Jojo Siwa’s recent coming out has sparked controversy across the globe. The 17-year-old’s primary fan base consists of the toddler and tween demographics. Because of this, many parents, especially those who are Christian, have expressed disapproval of their children looking up to a member of the LGBTQ+ community. Personally, I believe that the issue here lies within the allowance of children to idolize teenage influencers rather than the ways in which a celebrity chooses to use his/her platform. Idols have become normalized within influencer culture as we look up to and follow popular names in the entertainment industry rather than our Savior.
Just as social media and large platforms have become an effective tool for marketing, they can also be an incredible way to carry out our mission as Christians to spread the Gospel — using social media influence for the glory of God rather than ourselves. But instead, many have chosen to use their spotlight to promote themselves to their followers.
If God had a social media account, would you follow Him? Would you promote Him on your page for the gift of eternal salvation in return? Would you allow Him to influence you and your decisions? When we are hearing the noise of influencers louder than the voice of God, we know that this culture has seeped into our faith and affected our relationship with the Lord. Ultimately, God should be the overriding influencer of our lives, not a famous Youtuber.
The Beat @APU 