You probably don’t think much about the media you consume. You sit down, pull up Netflix, Instagram or YouTube, and let your mind be occupied for some period of time through something you find entertaining for various reasons. Though possibly without realizing it, you are being influenced by the characters or person’s opinions and actions, much like you would be if you were interacting with a friend.

I want you to really think about what you watch and who you are subscribed to or follow. The connections you have with these people and characters may run deeper than you think.

When you spend time with friends or family, you undeniably find yourself being influenced to behave more and think more like them. It is commonly known to be true that who you spend time with shapes your character. Depending on how much time you spend on any form of media (and be honest, most of us spend more than we should), this can look a lot like the fellowship we have with the people closest to us.

We have our favorite shows, YouTubers and Instagram personalities, and we loyally stick by them. There is sometimes a certain vulnerability on their part, and this private look into their lives deepens our connection. Depending on the length of a show, the in-depth look at the main character’s lives can even feel like this parasocial relationship we often experience with the personalities on social media. Without realizing it, we spend day after day with certain people we feel a deep connection with that shape how we view ourselves and the world.

This is especially relevant during this time of isolation during COVID-19. It is more difficult to spend time with our real friends and much easier to sit around and engage with whichever platform suits us at the moment. So, we must be mindful of how the characters and personalities we are consuming influence us and assess whether we should or shouldn’t be watching them.

Whether we like it or not, we need to critically think about this because God tells us not to be conformed to the world: “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect” (Romans 12:2, English Standard Version). God has put us in the world to testify of Jesus Christ, but we are not to be of the world: “I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world” (John 17:14-16, ESV).

Most media we consume is heavily influenced by the customs of the world. It is pretty general knowledge that the world is not being influenced by Christianity. Biblical illiteracy is high, and some Christian morals have become and are becoming defined as immoral in the secular eye.

There is a danger in the heavy media consumption versus time spent in the word of God.

Please consider these questions in light of the media you consume:

What are the things this person/show stands for?
How connected am I feeling to this person/these characters?
Has this show/person influenced my views?
If yes, how has this show/person been influencing my views?

Finally, I encourage you to pick up your Bible and read it to be transformed by the renewing of your mind. The best way to weed out what you consume is to pick up the word of God daily because the transformation from that will help you more easily identify what you should and shouldn’t engage with.

Media Influence and the Christian Mind