Social Media and Your Next Level: What You’re Consuming Shapes You
We live in a world where scrolling has become second nature.
TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube—you name it, we’re on it.
We watch clips, read captions, skim comments, and soak in other people’s opinions like sponges. But pause for a moment and ask yourself: what percentage of this content is actually sharpening me? What percentage is truly life-giving?
The honest answer? Very little.
Most of what fills our feed isn’t feeding us at all. It’s empty calories for the mind. Just mere entertainment, eye candy and fluff.
And here’s the danger: if you’re in a season of refinement—trying to build new habits, strengthen your character, or break out of old cycles—those endless scrolls can quietly sabotage your progress. You can’t plant seeds of growth while consuming weeds and rotten food.
Your input truly does affect your output.
The Problem with Passive Consumption
Social media doesn’t just waste time; it reshapes how you think, what you desire, and even how you see yourself. Too much of it leads to:
Comparison: scrolling through highlight reels while your own progress feels small.
Distraction: trading your focus for fleeting entertainment.
Stagnation: feeding on opinions instead of truth and wisdom.
Creativity drain: while some content sparks new ideas, too much of it actually steals your originality. Immersing yourself in other people’s voices can water down your own, and instead of creating, you end up only consuming.
What To Do Instead
This isn’t about quitting cold turkey; it’s about being intentional.
Replace the empty with the eternal and the helpful:
Switch it out: read a book that sharpens your mind and builds your vision.
Feed your focus: find a podcast or YouTube channel that speaks to your future, not just your present.
Clean your feed: unfollow or mute voices that don’t align with where you’re going. Follow people and communities that stretch you, challenge you, and lift you higher. People that uplift your spirit not just uplift your flesh.
Set boundaries: shorten your scroll time. Go to bed earlier. Protect your morning with peace, not noise. This creates sharper focus and sets the correct tone for your day.
Create more than you consume: trade some of that scroll time for writing, sketching, praying, or building the very thing God placed on your heart.
The Bigger Picture
Social media isn’t inherently evil.
There are life-giving posts and videos that encourage and inspire.
But this is your reminder: especially if you’re entering a new season—new routines, new mindsets, breaking old beliefs—you have to tweak your inputs.
What you consume must come into alignment with where you’re going.
Social media can either be a tool or a trap. The choice is yours.
If you want to grow, you can’t afford to let someone else’s feed shape your future more than God’s word, your own creativity, and the habits you’re building.
Don’t just scroll—be sharpened. Don’t just consume—create.
