Young Adults

Making Social Media a Positive Place

person holding a smartphone sending text messages

Five years ago, my husband and I decided to start a YouTube channel, where we began to genuinely share the way we live as members of the Church of Jesus Christ. Our idea was to talk about our beliefs through our lifestyle.

We have had the great blessing of receiving inspiring messages from several of our followers telling us about going to church for the first time or even getting baptized! These messages have filled us with so much joy.

We are very grateful for the enriching experiences that social networks have offered us in spreading the message of the restored gospel just by sharing our lives. But while social media can generate incredible experiences, help us develop meaningful relationships, and allow us to share our testimony of the gospel, it can also give us experiences that weaken us spiritually, lead us to judge others in unrighteous ways, and lose sight of who we truly are.

This month’s young adult section will address those topics and more. It’s easy to compare ourselves or our lives to what we see on social media, but we can learn to use social media to create a positive space where we resist judging ourselves or others, gain confidence in our divine nature, and most importantly, convey to others, through our example, the happiness that the gospel of Jesus Christ brings.

Bárbara Rodríguez

Insights …

From young adults

on not judging others on social media

“I keep in mind that we all have sides of ourselves that we do and don’t share with others. Instagram doesn’t equal real life.”

—Gabrielle Shiozawa, Washington, USA

“I have to remind myself to take a step back and remember not everything is always as it looks.”

—Kylie Parrish, Utah, USA

“I remember that they weren’t brought up the same as me. I haven’t walked a mile in their shoes.”

—Tiffany Sowards, Florida, USA

From Church leaders

“When we see our own imperfections more clearly, we are less inclined to view others ‘through a glass, darkly.’ We want to use the light of the gospel to see others as the Savior does—with compassion, hope, and charity. The day will come when we will have a complete understanding of others’ hearts and will be grateful to have mercy extended to us—just as we extend charitable thoughts and words to others during this life. …”

“Words have surprising power, both to build up and to tear down. We can all probably remember negative words that brought us low and other words spoken with love that made our spirits soar. Choosing to say only that which is positive about—and to—others lifts and strengthens those around us and helps others follow in the Savior’s way.”

President Jean B. Bingham, Relief Society General President, “I Will Bring the Light of the Gospel into My Home,” Liahona, Nov. 2016, 6, 7.

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