They are looking for validation from people. The interesting thing is that a lot of the people they
engage online with aren’t people they really hang out with or even speak to in person. The
comments they receive are not something they would hear from them in real life either. It is
easier to say things and post images online than to seek the validation in real life.
A girl at church I will call Emily started posting semi revealing photos on her snapchat to gain
attention. She is a lovely girl but is self-conscience. At first it was mostly innocent but as time
went on she received messages from guys pushing her to take it further. She continued sending
pictures and she thought it was private but it ended up getting shared throughout her entire
school. The church found out because some of our other students received the photos. This
young girl was absolutely embarrassed and felt betrayed. She also felt vulnerable from having
DESCRIPTION
Excessive social media usage in teens is a problem that affects their self esteem, and it can lead
to self destruction. Having social media is not necessarily a problem. Social media can be
beneficial and used for positive reasons like connecting with family and friends. Over 90 percent
of teenagers check social media every single day. (cite aacap) Using social media wisely is the
root of this. Social media is not the problem. Teens need to learn to use the platform responsibly.
https://www.aacap.org/AACAP/Families_and_Youth/Facts_for_Families/FFF-Guide/Social-
Media-and-Teens-100.aspx
Social media is also used as a tool for teens, more specifically teenage girls, to post content,
pictures and/or videos looking for validation. Why are young people turning to social media for
validation? They want positive feedback that shows they belong, they are attractive or cool.
One of the issues is social media can be cruel. You may receive 100 positive comments and one
negative comment. The teenager will remember only the negative comment and focus on it.
Comments on social media can be harsh and even bullying. It is no just a cry for attention, they
are desiring acceptance by receiving likes, hearts and follows.
They feel pressure to look or act a certain way. Their self-esteem is tied to the results they
receive on social media.
EXAMPLES
I am the Children’s Ministry Director at my church and the Youth Director is my close friend..
We do joint events quite often and I have noticed that all the youth girls hang out in a clique. All
of them travel to the bathroom together. One time I walked into the bathroom and all of the girls
were taking pictures of themselves and critiquing the pictures. They would then continue to take
pictures until they found one, they liked. They would post it on social media or send it on snap
chat to friends. The interesting thing is they were spending time with friends at church but no one
was actually communicating with each other. All of the communicating was with people not in
attendance. “
It’s because social media is destroying our ability to be social .”
McKee, Jonathan.
, Barbour Publishing, Inc., 2017.
ht tp:/ /ebookcentral.proquest.com/ lib/ liber t y/detail.action?docID=5050509.
Created from liberty on 2023-02-06 20:58:29.
T h e T e e n ' s G u i d e t o S o c i a l M e d i a . . . a n d M o b i l e D e v i c e s : 2 1
i n a n I n s e c u r e W o r l d P r o Q u e s t E b o o k C e n t r a l ,
https://www.commonsensemedia.org/sites/default/files/research/report/common-sense-
parent- census_whitepaper_new-for-web.pdf
Parents should be more involved.
SOLUTIONS
Parents need to encourage their children to use social media in a positive way instead of seeing it
as something that defines their self worth. Teens should be taught how to properly use social
media before being allowed to use it. Most teens use social media at an early age and their
parents are unaware. According to a study done by the Center of Media and Human
Development,” 56% of youth have their own social media accounts before their parents are
aware of it.
her private moments shared with hundreds of people. The Bible tells us in 1 corinthians to honor
God with our bodies. Our bodies are to be used to honor God instead of showing off for our own
gain. Emily was so insecure about herself that she revealed parts of her to gain approval and
ended up feeling even more insecure about herself.
1 corinthians 6:19-20 19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the
Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, 20 for
you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.
Before posting on social media there are a few things to ask yourself: Would I be embarrassed if
my family saw this? Once you post something it is there forever. The negative feedback is seen
by everyone. Am I posting this to seek approval from others? Others opinions don’t matter.
Look to purposeful sources for validation like parents and friends who are good influences.
BIBLICAL RESPONSE
Galatians 1:10 ESV “For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to
please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.”
If a teen is posting a picture to receive positive praise about their body, face, or even their
possessions, they are looking to the approval of others instead of what God cares about. The
In a world where 89 percent of teenagers report using some type of social media, you’d think young
people would be more. . . social . 1
M c K e e , J o n a t h a n . T h e T e e n ' s G u i d e t o S o c i a l
M e d i a . . . a n d M o b i l e D e v i c e s : 2 1 T i p s t o W i s e
P o s t i n g i n a n I n s e c u r e W o r l d , B a r b o u r P u b l i s h i n g ,
I n c . , 2 0 1 7 . P r o Q u e s t E b o o k C e n t r a l ,
ht tp:/ /ebookcentral.proquest.com/ lib/ liber t y/detail.action?docID=5050509.
Created from liberty on 2023-02-06 20:59:20.
This process of walking with our kids takes time. Good parenting
takes time.
M c K e e , J o n a t h a n . T h e T e e n ' s G u i d e t o S o c i a l
M e d i a . . . a n d M o b i l e D e v i c e s : 2 1 T i p s t o W i s e
P o s t i n g i n a n I n s e c u r e W o r l d , B a r b o u r P u b l i s h i n g ,
I n c . , 2 0 1 7 . P r o Q u e s t E b o o k C e n t r a l ,
ht tp:/ /ebookcentral.proquest.com/ lib/ liber t y/detail.action?docID=5050509.
Created from liberty on 2023-02-06 20:52:01.
desire of approval from others shouldn’t be the reason to post something to social media. It is
easy to get caught up wanting attention, likes or comments.
Luke 9:25
25
For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself?
If a teen is obsessed with taking pictures of themselves to post on social media to receive
adoration, somehow receiving the comments and likes helps dictate their identity, worth and
success. That is how teens and even the world views social media sometimes. According to Luke
9:25, it doesn’t matter what a person gains if they lose themselves in the process.
“Don’t treat other opinons like you would God’s opinions.” Rick Warren Don’t give others
opinons of you more focus than what God says of you. God’s Word is the ultimate authority.
Proverbs 29:25 says, “It is dangerous to be concerned with what other people think of
you, but if you trust the Lord, you are safe” (GNT).
CITE: RICK WARREN https://pastorrick.com/focus-on-gods-opinion-not-what-others-say/
MINISTRY APPLICATIONS
Teens and preteens need to be taught how to appropriately connect using social media.
Youth Pastors and parents could cooperate together to encourage teens to wait until they are
mature enough for social media. Viewing friends and celebrities lives through social media leads
to comparison which helps fuel the desire to post things for unhealthy reasons. Youth leaders can
help students navigate social media and the dangers they present. Some of the dangers are scary
or seem like they cant happen to us when in reality the dangers are ecer present.
Helping teens to use social media to create positive content for their youth group is a good way
to steer them in using social media for good. Examples would be videoing worship time and
Bible study to stream online. Another way is to create fun object lessons and challenge the youth
group to come up with their own. During covid our youth and children’s ministries presented fun
challenges for them to do. They would complete them while videoing and post it on your
ministry pages. This was a fun way to connect to their families and each other.
CONCLUSION
I have viewed teens taking pictures from the beginning to end of an event. They don’t engage
with people while they are there in fear of missing an opportunity to post for their online life. It
quickly turns into an obsession to garner attention and likes. Social media is a valuable resource
when used correctly. Teens are young and not aware of all the damages poor social media habits
can hurt them because digital footprints last forecer.
“Social media can be a great way to keep in touch with people and share
information. However, it can also feed into excessive reassurance-seeking
behaviors and unhealthy attempts at getting validation from others.
In other words, people often use the opinions of others to feel good about
themselves.”
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/liberate-yourself/202111/using-social-
media- reassurance-and-validation
The bottom line is that when our teens spend an excessive amount of time
online, they are on a journey to find their identity by comparing themselves
to others.
https://www.focusonthefamily.com/parenting/why-social-media-shouldnt-define-your-teen/
The fame, beauty, wit, status, and identity of other online teens become the
measuring stick by which they judge their value. They can never measure
up; they are susceptible to anxiety and depression
Change words
