Building Better Social Media Habits for Your Soul

Angel Barham, from The Salvation Army Johnsonville Corps, meets regularly with a group of young adult peers. Angel gets the lowdown on how these sincere Jesus followers navigate life on social media, offering not only some sound wisdom to ponder, but also plenty of practical advice to help keep your soul healthy while online.

We take care of so many areas of our lives: school, work, friendships and fitness. But how often do we think about caring for our social media life?

‘Social media hygiene’ might sound strange but think of it like this: just like you brush your teeth or clean your room, your digital habits need regular maintenance too.

Fifteen years ago, social media was simpler; it was just some status updates, photo albums and friend requests. Now? We carry these apps in our pockets 24/7. We scroll, swipe, like, comment, compare, consume and sometimes, spiral. What we’ve learned over the years is that our social media habits affect our mental health, our relationships and our walk with God.

Is your feed feeding you?

Ask yourself: Are your social media habits helping or harming your faith? Are they building you up or quietly draining your peace, joy and attention? We asked some young adults how they practise social media hygiene. Here’s what they shared.
James: ‘You’ve got to understand how algorithms work. If you start liking negative stuff, your whole feed shifts. Notice early and change course.’

Dan: ‘Not everything I follow is Christian, but it has to lift me up. It has to make me better, not weigh me down.’

Anthony: ‘I use an app that alerts me when I’ve spent over an hour on Instagram. It’s like a wake-up call. Then I switch to something more meaningful, like using Deepstash.’

Liam: ‘If you feel yourself slipping down a bad path online, get out quick. The devil will tempt you, so run to God sooner, not later.’

The scroll spiral

You open your phone for a quick laugh … and 30 minutes later, you’re knee-deep in doom-scrolling. We’ve all been there. The Bible doesn’t mention TikTok or Instagram, but it does give advice on what we should let into our heads and hearts.

‘Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable, if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think about such things.’ Philippians 4:8.

What if this verse became your social media filter? Before watching, liking or posting something, ask:

• Is this true or just clickbait?
• Is it pure or feeding temptation?
• Is it lovely or mean-spirited?
• Is it admirable or attention-seeking?

This isn’t about being perfect. It’s about protecting your peace. God created us to live full, connected, joyful lives. But if our focus is always on our feeds, we can slowly disconnect from what really matters.

Mental health matters

Too much social media is linked with anxiety, loneliness, poor sleep and comparison burnout. Even a 24-hour detox can reset your heart and mind. You don’t need to delete your accounts to follow Jesus, but you do need to be aware of what your feed is feeding you.

Your relationships matter

Being present means putting your phone down when you’re with people. Ever hung out with someone who’s ‘half-there’ because they’re scrolling? Don’t be that person. Social media hygiene is relational, too.

Your faith matters

Sometimes we say we don’t hear from God, but maybe we’re just too distracted. Try turning off notifications and sitting in the quiet with him. It might feel awkward at first. That’s okay. The point is connection.

Staying accountable

You’re not meant to do this alone. Just like we talk about fitness or eating habits with friends, we can talk about social media habits too. Ask each other:

• What’s one account you could unfollow this week?
• Have you ever tried a social media Sabbath?
• What content actually helps you feel closer to God?

After talking to countless youth and young adults, we’ve learned that this isn’t just your struggle, it’s our struggle. Social media is designed to grab our attention, keep us comparing and leave us craving more. Even the most grounded believers wrestle with screen time, endless scrolling and feeling spiritually drained online. You’re not weak for finding it hard to unplug. You’re human.

Helpful apps for a healthier social media life

One simple way to create better social media habits is to replace some of your scrolling time with apps and content that feed your soul instead of draining it. Here are some helpful tools that young adults have found meaningful as they work toward a more Christ-centred digital life.

• YouVersion Bible App: This widely used app offers a range of Bible translations, audio Bible options, daily reading plans and verse reminders.
• Lectio 365: A guided devotional app that helps you reflect on Scripture and pray in a thoughtful, focused way.
• Faith-based podcasts: If you’re looking for audio content to replace mindless scrolling, try these podcasts that blend spiritual depth with everyday relevance.
  • BibleProject: Exploring the big story of Scripture through visuals and deep theology.
  • Bridgetown Audio: Teachings from a church that blends modern life with ancient faith.
  • Christ with Coffee on Ice: A relatable, encouraging podcast for young adults navigating life and faith.
  • Whoa That’s Good: Sadie Robertson Huff hosts uplifting conversations about faith, purpose and the advice that changed her guests’ lives.

Try swapping 10 minutes of scrolling for one of these and see how you feel afterwards.

Final thought: do a social media clean-up

This week, take five minutes and do a screen audit. Look through who you’re following and check your screen time stats. You’ll quickly see where your time and attention are going.

God’s not asking you to be perfect on social media. He’s inviting you to be present. Because he cares about your whole life, even the part lived through a screen.