The Limitations of Social Media

On the Search for a Mature Space for Conversation and Self-Expression

by

Perspectives

Grinding the Beans | Sept. 18, 2025

In real time we are learning about the limitations of social media as a space for self-expression, lament or even critique. It is increasingly a space of misinformation, and this was an economic decision of the owners. It can be a cold space void of human relationships or nuance. It is not a circle of trust, and ultimately it serves those who own the space, thus the algorithms that push toward fear, anger, polarization, and depression. All of this is monetized.

The alternatives are human community, circles of trust, covenant groups, friendships, ways of communication that are subscriber based, fellowship (koinonia), therapy, spiritual direction, telephone conversations, private journaling, worship services, prayer groups.

We deceive ourselves if we think social media is a mature, open space. It is not. I access it to stay connected to some people (their birthdays, for example, or life events). But I am learning about the limitations of social media. The firings of employees, persons expressing themselves in social media, is not their fault. And, alongside this, is a growing awareness of what social media is and what it is not.

AI will also have owners, and there is no reason to assume that it will be a mature space, or that the chief aim will not be monetization. Another word for this is dehumanization.

So we have some agency here. We are mature adults.

Your (our) next step?

Call a friend. Read a book. Write in a journal. Begin a substack newsletter. Preach a sermon or teach a Sunday School class. Attend a political gathering with human beings. Write a letter. Breathe, meditate and listen to God.

There really are many ways to go about all of this. In some small way it will be like giving up an addiction.

Explore new ways of self-expression.

Bishop Kenneth Carter is episcopal leader of the Western North Carolina Conference of The United Methodist Church. This post is republished from his Substack blog, "Grinding the Beans."