Internet Over-Sharing

We all have come across that person on facebook, twitter, comment sections, etc. who freely shares an uncomfortable amount of their life with the internet. Some posts may even make you stop and say, “whoa! I did not need to know that!” I have seen it all, but honestly, the worst ones tend to be husbands and wives defacing each other online. It is one thing to post funny snippets playfully teasing each other, and another to disgrace your spouse with intimate details of your relationship. And that doesn’t just mean sharing too much of your sex life! It can often be sharing too much of every little conflict that happens in your marriage!

Something you may not know: venting is not biblical!  “A fool vents all his feelings, but a wise man holds them back” (Prov 29:11 NKJV). “A fool’s anger is known at once, but a prudent man conceals dishonor” (Prov 12:16 NASB). The smart, wise and prudent thing to do is to wait it out. The problem with social media and the internet is everything is immediate and right at our fingertips. As I type, my iphone lies next to me just begging to be looked at. The availability of this venting source only makes it more dangerous. Be on guard! The internet world blows issues out of proportion. All of a sudden a small insignificant fight turns into a voracious monster of a battle.

While posting in real time about our lives is fun, think through your posts. Is this helpful, harmful or neither? Could this be misconstrued? If this post was taken out of context, would it look like the post of a Christian who loved their spouse? Remember this is what social media is—out of context tiny glimpses into lives of people you may or may not know very well. What type of message are you portraying if your facebook is actually “ventbook?” More importantly, what message does it send to your spouse if you are willing to immediately air your dirty laundry online? I am going to venture that it is not a positive one. I want to encourage you. Think through what you are willing to share online!