The Facebook Privacy Delusion

So I have noticed a trend on facebook lately that has mostly gone unnoticed by myself until a conversation with a concerned mother. The fear I see running around facebook and through the heads of many parents is, “My privacy is ultimately important and I don’t want anyone seeing my facebook pictures, updates, ect. That I don’t know, and somehow using those against me at work, church, ect.” I have seen updates saying please switch your privacy settings, and please don’t like or comment on my statuses because I don’t want other peoples friends to see them. Well after the onslaught of these things I have come to a very important conclusion.

PEOPLE YOU DON'T KNOW DON'T GIVE A SHIT ABOUT YOU!  (Pardon my French)

Listen, If you find yourself worrying that one of your friends, friends, friends might see a picture of yours or an update you put on facebook and that might embarrass you, then you need to re-evaluate your ENTIRE LIFE. If you are putting something onto facebook that you would be ashamed if someone you didn’t know would read or see, then it is something you should be ashamed you did or said in the first place. Also, if you have an EGO that is so large that you believe complete strangers or “friends of friends” really care about you, your picture, your life moments, you are WRONG. I have seen in my feed people I don’t know because my friends are tagged in their pictures. Like most of you I see my friend, say “that’s nice” and move on without a second look at anyone else in the picture. I am sorry to burst your bubble but unless it is your friend, no one cares about what you look like or have to say. You need a big cup of Humility and a second helping of humble pie.

MORE IMPORTANTLY…

I am an Evangelical Christian. I believe my life should be a testament to my faith and my God. There for I would want the whole world to see my updates and my photos. I don’t care who likes, comments, shares, or tolls my postings. The more recognition the better. If I spur conversation about the validity of creationism v. evolution v. inelegant design I am doing something right. If I am presenting the message of Christ which is love your God and love your neighbor, I am doing something right. It was St. Francis of Assisi who said preach the gospel at all times and use words only when necessary. Since facebook is mostly words I think we could amend it to say Facebook the Gospel at all times and use verses when necessary.

That is what we are called to. Using any means to preach the gospel. Facebook is an amazing way to show how the gospel is alive and life changing. So for me the idea that “anyone can get to my updates or pictures” isn’t really inciting fear but opportunity. It is a way to show how my personal relationship with Jesus Christ has changed who I am in a very real way. I have heard “what if you’re a role model for young kids and there are pictures of you smoking and drinking”… Well I am a role model for kids, and If you look back in my facebook, which you are free to do, you will see in the past I have picture of my socially drinking with large groups of people, the hip would call it a party. How can I justify trying to be a “role model” and be ok with pictures of DRINKING! Because I am not a hypocritical tool box who thinks the only way to help kids is to show a holier than thou life style. I will give you a minute get some water for that burn, it’s cool I’ll wait!

In those pictures I was 21, in a social setting, and drinking responsibly. Three things I would hope to instill in my kids. Knowing there is a time to party and celebrate, but God calls us to lives of moderation. Moderation in drinking, moderation in language, moderation in everything except love. So instead of asking who can see your facebook, maybe you should be saying what am I saying with facebook. Once our hearts are turned to what we are saying, that questions changes. It changes to I wonder who else can see my facebook? Or Who else can gain from my facebook?

So here I stand, on the wrong side of the cross wondering if I am shouting God’s word loud enough. Am I a big enough mirror shining light into the darkness? Am I a bright enough candle flickering against the imposing and overwhelming shadow? If I can take anything away from peoples fear about who can see their facebook information it I would be this. First, Less people want to know about you than you think. Second, Maybe you should refocus what you are putting into the world as life giving so that people should care about what you say and do. Finally, If we are truly living the life God calls us to then we should not be afraid of someone finding out who we used to be, because the person we are now is a reflection of Christ in the world, and that should not be hidden like candle under a basket but put on a stool to give light to the whole room. Mathew 5: 14“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden;15nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lamp stand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.16“Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.