How Can I Delete That?

Creeping. Lurking. Prowling. These are words that conjure up images of a shadowy stalker-type figure, hiding in the bushes outside a bedroom window with nefarious intent. In today's vernacular, however, these words are often used to describe behavior engaged in by a large mass of the world's populace. I'm talking about Facebook subscribers.

Apparently (and this was news to me), it is considered very poor etiquette to lurk, creep, or otherwise prowl on Facebook and other social media sites. Admittedly, accusations of being a lurker, creeper, or prowler of pretty much anything are not something I want to have leveled at me, regardless of the context, so it would seem beneficial to make myself familiar with what exactly constitutes lurking, creeping and prowling, if for no other reason then to avoid committing this most serious of social sins.

So how exactly does one lurk on Facebook? Well, it turns out that it is a rather simple crime to commit. If you have every looked at someone's post without commenting on it or "liking" it, or clicked on a "so and so has updated their profile status" or scrolled through their pictures, all without revealing your presence, you, dear reader, are guilty of lurking. Furthermore (and this is where the offense becomes particularly heinous), if you have ever jumped from someone that you are friends with to a non-friend by clicking on their comment and then checked out their profile or posts, this also constitutes lurking. Are you feeling appropriately shamed, yet? Don't feel like you're the only one. The 1% Rule of Internet culture states that for every one person who posts on a forum ( or Facebook post, or blog, etc.), there are 99 other people who only read it and don't post anything. In other words, 99% of Facebook subscribers are creeping, lurking, and prowling at any given moment, reading and viewing your posts without your ever knowing they are there.  Oh the humanity! (Coincidentally, at the time of this post, this blog has received exactly 100 views and 1 comment...weird!)

A friend of mine who is a youth pastor learned how socially faux pas this kind of activity is considered when he mentioned to one of his youth group kids his concern over the content of one of their posts. Their response was one of shock, not out of guilt or shame, but out of indignation that the youth pastor had invaded a "private" conversation.

And therein lies the breakdown. Somehow, it has escaped the notice of people, young people in particular, that social media is just that, social. What you post, be it pictures, videos, links, or comments, is in no way private, but is available for anyone to see and spread (which reminds me of another word that has recently gained new meaning--viral!). This means that once it is posted, there is a very real possibility, even probability, that it is out there forever. In the business world, this has become so important to ascertaining what kind of an employee a candidate may be that businesses will look at places like Facebook to gauge the character of a potential hiree. Many would-be careers have been derailed by an ill-advised post of pictures from spring break, never imagining that one day those pictures might resurface and destroy an opportunity.

All of this serves as a warning that what we may think is private may not truly be as private as we think, and what we may think no one sees, actually may be being viewed by those we would rather not have see it. You just never know who is lurking, or when some dumb click of the mouse may come back to bite you.

And this illustrates an important spiritual truth: there is One who sees everything we say and do. Although we don't always think about it, the Lord sees everything we do and hears everything we say. Solomon stated this truth in clear language: "the eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good" (Prov.15:3). Furthermore, these things done in secret will be brought into daylight at the Judgment Seat of Christ by the One who sees everything done in secret.  In Matt.12:36, Jesus declares that we will have to give an account for every careless word we speak (or post).  The potential for temporal consequences of the things we publicize on social media is great.  How much greater the potential for spiritual consequences?  In light of that sobering truth, how precious is the truth that the One who knows all our secrets is always ready to forgive and restore when we confess our sins to Him (1 John 1:9).  His grace is available to all.  No matter what we have done, His blood is sufficient to wash us clean and restore us.

So are Facebook and other social media sites bad?  Of course not.  Should we use good judgment before we post things, aware that anyone may read or see what we have posted, and knowing that Someone does see what we have posted?  We certainly should!  A practical suggestion would be to ask ourselves, "Does this bring glory to God, does it further His Kingdom or damage my testimony, and do I really want to stand before my King and give an account for what I am about to post on Facebook?"  Perhaps its time to add a new verse to the children's Sunday School song: "O be careful little hands, what you post.  O be careful little hands, what you post.  For your Father up above is looking down with love, so be careful little hands, what you post."

Oh and by the way, if you want to lurk on this blog and never leave a comment, feel free.  Lurkers, creepers and prowlers are welcome at livingtogod!!  :-)

Soli Deo gloria