It’s 8:48 pm on Wednesday, February 1, 2012. At this moment I have over 100 unread emails, 75 notifications on Facebook, 2 notifications on Google+, and 98 new pins.
Just checking those sites to get accurate numbers to share on this post made me a bit overwhelmed. But it also made me realize something, there’s just no way to keep up with social media. I cannot do it all.
Last week I declared Twitter bankruptcy. I’d been struggling to keep up with the 1700+ people I followed on Twitter and knew that I was missing out on updates and information I really wanted because my TweetDeck columns were full of lots of updates I wasn’t really interested in for countless reasons. So I did it … I literally unfollowed everyone. {Even my family!}
I know there’s some controversy about Twitter bankruptcy. The comments on this post by Claire Diaz Ortiz show how strongly people can feel about it. I admit that reading Claire’s rationale was the final impetus for me to make the difficult choice to start over on Twitter. I’d been contemplating it for several months actually. But, if I’m honest, I was afraid. Afraid of hurting people’s feelings. Afraid of losing momentum as a blogger. Afraid of what others might say about me.
I prayed about it. I weighed it out in my heart and mind. And this is where I landed.
A person’s words can be life-giving water; words of true wisdom are as refreshing as a bubbling brook. Proverbs 18:4 NLT
I want my words to be life-giving water! That’s the reason I study and prepare before I write a blog post or teach a Bible study. I desire to be intentional in investing in others lives and purposeful in offering encouragement. I want to come alongside those who are struggling and invest in the lives of the people God places in my life.
No doubt there are people who are able to do that for 1700 others … I am not one of them. And so I carefully unfollowed everyone. And then I prayerfully refollowed some.
Right now, I’m following 179. That’s not a magic number … it’s where I am today. I’m carefully and prayerfully adding others. But my heart about it has changed. I want to be intentional. Twitter, and all social media, has a place in my life. But Twitter is not my life.
And, I’m choosing not to be afraid to make the hard decisions. Not everyone will understand, not everyone will agree. However, I’m applying the same rules to social media as I do to every other area of my life.
- Does it move me closer to the Lord?
- Does it allow me to encourage others?
- Does it distract me from my family?
- Has it become an idol in my life?
Social media is a great thing! I love it and I am deeply thankful for the relationships and opportunities (and income!) it has brought to my life. BUT!!! Social media, like everything else, can hold a place in our hearts and minds that it doesn’t deserve. We must be good stewards of this tool … because that’s what it is, a tool. Just as tools can be used appropriately for good results, they can also be used inappropriately and bring destruction.
Today, I want to invite you to consider your social media … whether you only use Facebook or you’re like me and use it all … ask yourself these questions:
Do I use social media to connect with people and neglect developing and maintaining relationships in real life?
Is there fear associated with my use of social media? Am I afraid I’ll miss something or that if I change or even eliminate some or all of the social media in my life others will be disappointed or upset with me?
Does social media have a place in my life that rightfully belongs to God, my spouse, or my children?
There’s a fine line … and we all have to be mindful of which side we’re on. If you have not sought the Lord’s guidance in this area of your life, I encourage you to do so.
What boundaries have you established for social media use? Have you ever felt convicted about social media in your life?
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This week is all about TIME. From the necessity of trusting God with our time, learning how to create time in our days, and using delegation this journey to better time management is one I hope encourages and challenges you. Tomorrow we’ll wrap up our series with a look at what God says about our time. Just to make sure you don’t miss a post in this series, please take a moment to subscribe for daily updates in your email. All the previous posts in Starting Well in 2012 are indexed here.
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{ 16 comments… read them below or add one }
Twitter: louiseharv
February 2, 2012 at 8:22 am
This is such a good article! I am not on twitter, but I use facebook and subscribe to lots of blogs- my thinking is that I read the blogs for encouragement so it’s a good use of time to read them. It’s when I end up reading the blogs over digging into God’s word myself that I know I have to stop, log off, and pick up my bible again.
Twitter: TeriLynneU
February 2, 2012 at 8:41 am
Louise, that is such an issue for many women, I think. They begin reading blogs as an enhancement to their spiritual growth and end up reading blogs instead of reading the Word.
Thank you for sharing!
Well said, TL. The Enemy knows our capacity to be driven by fear, and he has found new fodder in social media. Fear that we’re going to miss out, be left out, or not find out. It can keep us enslaved … old idea, new form. Such wise thoughts today. I will only read a “few” today, but I’m glad this was one.
Twitter: TeriLynneU
February 2, 2012 at 8:42 am
Thank you, Julie. Social media is fodder for our enemy in so many ways, isn’t it? We must be ever on guard.
Twitter: steflayton
February 2, 2012 at 8:48 am
woo to the ever loving hoo !! Freedom is awesome – and social media should not wear us down ! And it does. NO ONE CAN DO IT ALL – I don’t care if you’re bionic woman! I love this post and am so glad (even though many folks laughed at me and think I’m crazy because I dumped my following at Christmas) are starting to realize we can participate in social media the way we want to – not the way it wants us to. Love you girl – scream it loud! God does not give us anything that should be a burden and we become a slave to it.
Galatians 5:1 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
Stef Layton recently posted..dwell on these things
Twitter: TeriLynneU
February 2, 2012 at 8:52 am
Thank you, Stef. It’s so important that we lay everything down before the Lord and make sure it’s in His plan that we pick it back up … and how much of it we carry!!
GOOD.FOR.YOU.TERI.LYNN.
I could not agree with you more and find that I’m often so overwhelmed by the fact that I’m CONSTANTLY accessible. When I was in Ghana this past summer, I didn’t have a cell phone and none of the other stuff and you would not believe how at peace I was for ten days. I loved it and then I quickly got back into it about two weeks after I returned home. Sigh.
Thanks for your courage and being so real. I love it.
Twitter: TeriLynneU
February 2, 2012 at 9:03 am
Oh Natalie … that constant accessibility makes it hard “to be still and know”, doesn’t it?
This is SO good. I’ve never thought about dumping all my followers (I use tweetdeck, so I just dump my lists every once in awhile and start over!) but I see how that might be a big weight off! But you’re right–there are so many things bloggers and social media folks SHOULD do that you can NEVER EVER EVER keep up with it. It’s stressful. (<—doesn't that seem crazy?!)
I remember at my first Blissdom like 4 years ago, I heard Shannon from Rocks in My Dryer talk about resisting the "unseen hand" that pushes us to post & get on social media. The one that makes us feel like we'll be forgotten if we don't engage online. I continually remind myself of this to keep my eyes open to the fact that NO ONE WILL DIE IF I DO NOT GET ONLINE!!!
Anywhoo. Point is: perfect post.
a
Twitter: TeriLynneU
February 2, 2012 at 10:13 am
Thank you, Amanda. I think we struggle between what is real and what is true, sometimes. Yes, the pressure to do it all is real … but it’s not rooted in truth. The truth is our identity and purpose are found in Christ alone.
Sometimes we don’t need a reality check as much as we need a truth check.
Love that image of the unseen hand.
tl
Twitter: multitaskingme
February 2, 2012 at 5:49 pm
Such good points for those of us that stay so ever lovin’ connected. I never considered unfollowing all but I have allowed myself (just in the last six months) the freedom to unfollow people that are negative, that I started following for the “wrong” reasons, etc. Love how it has changed the tone of my twitter stream.
Good for you for taking the “drastic” step. Any choice bathed in prayer is the right one!
I love it! Proud of you. We need to talk soon…
I deleted my facebook account all the way and it was great! I took about a 6 month break. Now I’m slowing back on it again, but using with caution. Thanks for this encouragement! I know I don’t need permission to give myself a break from social media, but it sometimes feels like that. I think I might have to try something similar with my Twitter stream as you did.
Twitter: TeriLynneU
February 6, 2012 at 6:26 pm
It does feel like we have ask (even if it’s just ourselves) before we take a break.
We have to train ourselves (and our children!!) to use social media wisely.
For several years that I impart my self in social media, Its left a kind of satisfaction in my part. I used every search engine as my bridge in forming different business labels…
Stephanie recently posted..Dating Jokes
Twitter: Butterfly_Genes
February 22, 2012 at 4:45 pm
Ooh, girl, I know what you mean. Which is why I’ve sort of come to a social media hiatus. On one hand, it’s been so freeing (to stay a loooong time on Pinterest! HA!), but on the other hand, I feel like the relationships that I’ve made in the virtual world are going to go by the wayside if I don’t stay on top of things. I wish I could say that my IRL relationships are flourishing because of my lack of online time, but that’s not the case, and it’s all something that I need to make a matter of prayer. Wishing I could come to Blissdom with you!
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