When I was a kid, growing up in the 80’s, there was no Internet. If you wanted to learn something and there was no skateboarding to do, you would go to a library and take out a book, read the newspaper, watch the news or listen to the radio. Not all of this content was good content, of course, but at least there was a certain level of scholarship, research, cost, critique, fact-checking, etc. that was needed to publish the media.
Today, with the Internet, it is quite different. Anyone can weigh-in on anything and reach everyone at any time. Now there are some huge benefits to the Internet with freedom of speech, accountability, fact checking with the general public, etc., for information to not be controlled by the people in power, but there for sure are some disadvantages! The playing field is levelled and those who have the most influence are not necessarily the most qualified or trustworthy.
There are some bizarre outcomes of the Internet that have deeply shaped us that I think we should be aware of. Have you ever thought of how weird it is that when you want to know the answer to a question that we just “google it”, ask Siri or Alexa? I think this is stranger than we realize.
I wonder if the effects of information overload or “infobesity” are going to have a lasting impact on us in ways we can’t imagine. The volume of information is coming at us non-stop. I find myself really struggling to know who to listen to. I doubt we are better off with all of these options, with on-demand access, with the perpetual noise of opinions and information.
Do you feel this way? Are you also tired of the noise?
Why is the Internet so successful at what it does? I don’t know exactly, but here’s one thought. I believe the Internet scratches the itch we have to know everything because “knowledge is power.” I’m using “knowledge is power” negatively here, of course knowledge is a good thing. But our sinful, ceaseless striving for knowledge can be a bad thing in at least a few ways. For example, you have the upper hand if you are “in the know,” you can stay in control if you know what’s happening, you can ignore authority and be your own boss if you have the right information, etc. If you know everything, there is no need to depend on our All-Knowing God.
This human behaviour has existed from the beginning. I believe since the “Fall” (Genesis 3), humans have not been content with God’s word being enough. “Did God really say…” this was Satan’s attack on the trustworthiness and goodness of God’s word, and the humans fell for it. Somehow God’s word was lacking or missing important details.
Do we fall for that same lie now? As Christians, do we look to the Bible to give us the direction we need? Or do we search for signs, miracles, hidden insights, or gnostic mysticism because we secretly think the Bible is not enough? Do we spend just a few minutes in the Bible but hours online, taking in information? I hope not. If so, we are in for some cloudy vision, noisy thinking, anxious feeling, selfish serving, lustful wishing, and crooked walking.