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Social Sanity in an Insta World
Why do I feel so irritated after being on social media?
I just spent way too much time scrolling Instagram!
Why is everyone on Facebook having more fun than I am?
Should I delete all my accounts?
Social media can be both a delight and a disaster for women who want to love God and love neighbor. The industry has grown so fast that it’s been hard to figure out how to handle it wisely: in less than 20 years, more than 75 percent of American women have signed up for an account. The latest surveys show Americans spend more than two hours a day scrolling, posting, and liking. How can we navigate this area of our lives with grace and discernment?
Join nine authors as they explore social media’s potential and pitfalls—along with the biblical principles we need to honor the Lord online.
I just spent way too much time scrolling Instagram!
Why is everyone on Facebook having more fun than I am?
Should I delete all my accounts?
Social media can be both a delight and a disaster for women who want to love God and love neighbor. The industry has grown so fast that it’s been hard to figure out how to handle it wisely: in less than 20 years, more than 75 percent of American women have signed up for an account. The latest surveys show Americans spend more than two hours a day scrolling, posting, and liking. How can we navigate this area of our lives with grace and discernment?
Join nine authors as they explore social media’s potential and pitfalls—along with the biblical principles we need to honor the Lord online.
153 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 2022
50 people are currently reading
1824 people want to read
About the author
Sarah Eekhoff Zylstra
5 books11 followersSarah Eekhoff Zylstra is senior writer and faith-and-work editor for The Gospel Coalition. Before that, she wrote for Christianity Today, homeschooled her children, freelanced for a local daily paper, and taught at Trinity Christian College. She earned a BA in English and communication from Dordt University and an MSJ from Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University. She lives with her husband and two sons in the suburbs of Chicago.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 134 reviews
July 27, 2022
This book hit the top of my to-read stack at just the right time. The Lord was already speaking to me about my social media habits as I found myself frustrated and wearied by my time spent scrolling. I would recommend first listening to Sarah Zylstra’s podcast episode "Scrolling Alone" on TGC's Recorded episode before diving into this book (you'll learn that Sarah has since deleted her social media accounts). Each chapter of this book encouraged me to evaluate my habits by looking at the truth of Scripture, the satisfaction and approval I have in Christ, and why I'm even on social media in the first place. I finished with a pretty good idea of what kinds of boundaries and limits will work best for me and my own social media habits. I think Emily Jensen's chapter ("Choosing to Stay or Go") was most helpful. You really can leave social media. And if, like me, your job prevents that from being a full reality, you can still leave in a lot of other ways.
September 2, 2022
I think this would be a great resource for someone who hasn't thought through the implications of social media - a teenager, for example. As someone who is increasingly keeping a distance from social media because of my (years long) dwellings upon its impacts, I can't say I left this book with any life-altering nuggets.
April 15, 2024
Great for thinking through the challenges and opportunities of social media. I appreciated that the application wasn’t just ‘quit all social media’ but that it gave some compelling arguments for reducing time spent on social media as well as reframing why we might use it. I think this would be a great book to read with friends as each chapter ends with reflection questions and a short bible study.
March 18, 2023
Very bite-sized and practical. I’m encouraged and challenged!
February 16, 2023
Was weird to read since I don’t have social media but offered biblically based insight to how believers should interact with social media platforms. Changes the way I think about social media usage. I loved they way it talked about how God is sovereign over technology and was not surprised by its invention.
“We’re often blind to whats good because we’re too busy with what’s easy. It seems we’ve forgotten that real life is much more beautiful than living through screens. But being aware of the beauty of our real life is crucial in the process of designing and sustaining good social media practices.“
“We’re often blind to whats good because we’re too busy with what’s easy. It seems we’ve forgotten that real life is much more beautiful than living through screens. But being aware of the beauty of our real life is crucial in the process of designing and sustaining good social media practices.“
August 26, 2022
Excellent read! I felt I would have benefitted more from this book if I were actually using Facebook or Instagram to post rather than use it as a tool to help encourage me or get homeschool/parenting ideas. This is my current season of what I use it as.
My favorite take away was that I cannot be omnipresent like God. But social media makes me perceive that I can be. It is ok that I have several relationships I want to invest in, but I cannot be in several places at once. Choose where I want to be in that moment.
My favorite take away was that I cannot be omnipresent like God. But social media makes me perceive that I can be. It is ok that I have several relationships I want to invest in, but I cannot be in several places at once. Choose where I want to be in that moment.
July 9, 2022
For the past 2 years social media has been my “friend.” Moving during the very beginning of COVID rocked my world. Here I was in a new city, with a 4 week old and 2 year old with no one to talk to but my husband. How was I ever going to build community when no one wanted to get within 6ft of me? I know everyone had struggles but mine felt especially hard. My unhealthy relationship with social media began around this time. I couldn’t stay off or take a break without feeling desperately lonely. Thankfully the past 6 months has been a time of slow community growth. This book encouraged me with biblical truth and real life perspectives about the joy and dangers of social media. I highly recommend. Quick read!
June 18, 2022
“Our greatest problem isn’t spending too much time on social media. Our greatest problem is that we’re not spending enough time in our Bibles. Discernment comes through addition, not subtraction. We need to add more of what’s truly good into our daily routines instead of only subtract what’s potentially harmful.”
Also,
“Before we mindlessly pull out our phones and begin to scroll, it’s important to ask: What’s the best use of my time in this moment?”
Lord, reveal to me the paths of life. At your right hand are treasures forever more. Help me to see that “small moments over time accumulate into large portion of our lives” and that these small moments are best spent with you. Not this screen.
Amen!
Also,
“Before we mindlessly pull out our phones and begin to scroll, it’s important to ask: What’s the best use of my time in this moment?”
Lord, reveal to me the paths of life. At your right hand are treasures forever more. Help me to see that “small moments over time accumulate into large portion of our lives” and that these small moments are best spent with you. Not this screen.
Amen!
September 29, 2024
This book is an excellent tool to use for self-examination about one's relationship with social media. The collection of authors work together to paint a picture of how a Christian woman can utilize social media in a healthy way - a way which will not detract from her most important relationship, her one with the Lord. They recommend boundaries to set, beliefs to establish, and provide clarity on which mentalities about social media (both healthy and unhealthy) need to be actively worked through.
I appreciated the directness of each author and how each chapter gave me pause to reflect on different areas of my personal relationship with social media. It gave me boldness to alter things about my usage and overall thoughts about each platform. This book provided me with hard questions to ask myself that I never would have known to ask on my own. I recommend Social Sanity to any Christian woman who is looking for more information about how to serve God well through social media.
I appreciated the directness of each author and how each chapter gave me pause to reflect on different areas of my personal relationship with social media. It gave me boldness to alter things about my usage and overall thoughts about each platform. This book provided me with hard questions to ask myself that I never would have known to ask on my own. I recommend Social Sanity to any Christian woman who is looking for more information about how to serve God well through social media.
October 1, 2023
This book was absolutely incredibly. Simple writing, very digestible, and great insight. I love that is was written by different women and included scriptural tie-ins.
Here’s a small peak into the goodness:
“Our greatest problem isn’t spending too much time on social media. Our greatest problem is that we’re not spending enough time in our Bibles. Discernment comes through addition, not subtraction. We need to add more of what’s truly good into our daily routines instead of only subtracting what’s potentially harmful.”
“We are all, always, under the influence. The question to ask is, What - or who - is your primary influence?”
Highly recommend this one!
Here’s a small peak into the goodness:
“Our greatest problem isn’t spending too much time on social media. Our greatest problem is that we’re not spending enough time in our Bibles. Discernment comes through addition, not subtraction. We need to add more of what’s truly good into our daily routines instead of only subtracting what’s potentially harmful.”
“We are all, always, under the influence. The question to ask is, What - or who - is your primary influence?”
Highly recommend this one!
August 2, 2022
This. Was. FANTASTIC! Totally exceeded my expectations! I honestly picked this up thinking it would be one long-winded, preachy guilt trip, diatribing about how good Christians aren't on social media much, go on regular social media fasts, or delete their profiles altogether... My pessimistic self figured I would roll my eyes most of the way through it.
But... Wow, that was not at all the case. Instead, Social Sanity was a helpful tapestry of advice and information from a variety of authors on wise, responsible social media use - to be aware of its advantages and disadvantages, to manage the usefulness well, and to avoid the dangers shrewdly.
Every woman or teen who wants to start using social media in a God-glorifying way should read this first! It's also set up really well for use as a group book study or counseling homework, with questions and further study Scripture at the end of each chapter.
Favorite chapters were Embracing Your Limits, Emotions, and Posting Well. Highly, highly recommend!
But... Wow, that was not at all the case. Instead, Social Sanity was a helpful tapestry of advice and information from a variety of authors on wise, responsible social media use - to be aware of its advantages and disadvantages, to manage the usefulness well, and to avoid the dangers shrewdly.
Every woman or teen who wants to start using social media in a God-glorifying way should read this first! It's also set up really well for use as a group book study or counseling homework, with questions and further study Scripture at the end of each chapter.
Favorite chapters were Embracing Your Limits, Emotions, and Posting Well. Highly, highly recommend!
March 18, 2025
A great resource for thinking through or resetting social media habits.
March 13, 2023
This is a short and thoughtful book about social media use for the Christian woman. It was filled with thoughtful questions and ideas. It isn't a how to book, more of a book on how to better view social media as a whole. I enjoyed it and found it helpful as I continue to consider how I use social media.
March 29, 2023
The book every social media user ought to read!! Even better if read in a small group!
What I personally loved most about this book was the diversity and different perspectives as every chapter was written by a different author. Different ages, different occupations, different backgrounds, different races etc! Highlighting how important and helpful it is to learn from one another!!! Whether you use social media for personal or business reasons, this book has a good and wise word for you!
What I personally loved most about this book was the diversity and different perspectives as every chapter was written by a different author. Different ages, different occupations, different backgrounds, different races etc! Highlighting how important and helpful it is to learn from one another!!! Whether you use social media for personal or business reasons, this book has a good and wise word for you!
December 24, 2024
Enjoyed this reminder about what is good and not so good about social media. Many may think it is common sense and not pick up this book, and indeed it is, but I found it to be a good way to reflect and reset from a Christian perspective as the new year approaches. Some of the examples were not relatable, but the core of the book is solid. If I’m honest with myself, certain apps negatively impact me when I invest too much time on them. 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒃𝒍𝒆𝒎 𝒊𝒔 𝑰 𝒂𝒎 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒂𝒍𝒘𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒉𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒎𝒚𝒔𝒆𝒍𝒇. So books like this are helpful.
“…women use social media to build relationships, while men use it more transactionally, like to find information or to network with new connections.”
“We dare not tell ourselves that we can afford unlimited relationships that aren’t face-to-face. To do so is to embrace idolatry, robbing our real relationships for the sake of our virtual ones.”
“…social media appears to inspire creativity, offer true community, and foster meaningful connection. But too much consumption can lead to emotional turmoil and spiritual defeat.”
For those who make the salt and light argument: “But this is your friendly reminder that social media use isn’t a requirement to get into heaven or to be holy.”
“…women use social media to build relationships, while men use it more transactionally, like to find information or to network with new connections.”
“We dare not tell ourselves that we can afford unlimited relationships that aren’t face-to-face. To do so is to embrace idolatry, robbing our real relationships for the sake of our virtual ones.”
“…social media appears to inspire creativity, offer true community, and foster meaningful connection. But too much consumption can lead to emotional turmoil and spiritual defeat.”
For those who make the salt and light argument: “But this is your friendly reminder that social media use isn’t a requirement to get into heaven or to be holy.”
August 4, 2022
This was a pretty quick read, although you could take longer by stopping at the end of each chapter to work through all of the reflection question and suggested bible study. While there were helpful reminders of truth and prompts for reflection and challenge in each chapter, they felt a bit more like blog posts than book chapters.
I particularly found chapter 4, 7 & 8 helpful on discernment, rhythms and decisions respectively. These chapters provided practical frameworks through which to think about social media (like developing a mission statement, or a series of questions about how social media hinders or helps good work and good rest) and challenged me to consider my personal use of social media - which was why I read the book!
Emily Jensen puts it well to conclude chapter 8: “As women in a hyper connected world, life can feel full of requirements… But this is your friendly reminder that social media use isn’t a requirement to get into heaven or be holy… Whether or not you continue to use social media, you can glorify God in every situation. Eventually, social media will fade and fail, so put your hope in the One who never does.”
I particularly found chapter 4, 7 & 8 helpful on discernment, rhythms and decisions respectively. These chapters provided practical frameworks through which to think about social media (like developing a mission statement, or a series of questions about how social media hinders or helps good work and good rest) and challenged me to consider my personal use of social media - which was why I read the book!
Emily Jensen puts it well to conclude chapter 8: “As women in a hyper connected world, life can feel full of requirements… But this is your friendly reminder that social media use isn’t a requirement to get into heaven or be holy… Whether or not you continue to use social media, you can glorify God in every situation. Eventually, social media will fade and fail, so put your hope in the One who never does.”
November 5, 2022
To be honest, I thought this book would be a cliche “how to” book on managing social media well. Instead, I was pleasantly surprised and convicted. I read this book so quickly because I need it. Each chapter is written by a different woman who addresses a different aspect of our relationship with social media, from Jen Wilkin’s chapter on our identity as humans with limitations and Laura Wifler’s chapter on influence and wisdom — Proverb’s Lady Wisdom and Lady Folly personified in social media. It left me with a greater conviction to “leave” Instagram for a time (stay tuned haha) and to craft much more intentional rhythms in how I use social media. Written for women, but there are still many practical takeaways for men as well.
March 18, 2024
I love, love, love this book! It's full of great nuggets that got me to think about my presence online. It showed me a perspective that I didn't see before. I love the statistics and facts presented as well as the questions for reflection or discussion at the end of each chapter. And reflect I did. This book also has a further study section at the end of each chapter with a verse of scripture and reflection questions. For me the best test for a Christian non-fiction book is if it prompts me to open my bible and this book absolutely did. The audience for this book is women but men can glean a lot from this book as well. This would be a great book for a group bible study. I will definitely recommend and reread this book in the future. I'm very grateful that I decided to pick it up!
November 15, 2022
“When you spend time on social media, it changes how you shop, what you eat, who you vote for, where you give money, how you exercise, how you educate your kids, what books you read, and what you talk about at the dinner table. It affects how you run your business, how you make love to your husband, and how you worship God. Social media will shape what’s important to you. What’s worthy of your time. What you believe. And what you love.
We’ve been asleep at the switch. So what do we do about it?”
This is not a book telling you to get off social media, but rather asking the question … how is my time best spent? Am I tempted or addicted? Does this support a healthy balance of work and rest? Is my usage promoting hospitality and does my content come from a place of overflow?
Worthy read.
We’ve been asleep at the switch. So what do we do about it?”
This is not a book telling you to get off social media, but rather asking the question … how is my time best spent? Am I tempted or addicted? Does this support a healthy balance of work and rest? Is my usage promoting hospitality and does my content come from a place of overflow?
Worthy read.
July 27, 2023
Rounded up from 2.5. This book was fine. Nothing groundbreaking or mind blowing. Full disclosure- I’m currently off all social media aside from Goodreads, so arguably this book wasn’t written for me. 😂
However, there were definitely some good reminders about not allowing a screen dictate your mood or overtake your innate sense of what kind of beauty there truly is in the world. Real life is just better!
However, there were definitely some good reminders about not allowing a screen dictate your mood or overtake your innate sense of what kind of beauty there truly is in the world. Real life is just better!
August 9, 2022
This book really challenged me to look at the way I am using social media. I can appreciate that it didn’t arrive at a one size fits all conclusion. They left it up to the reader decide. Would love to read again with a small group!
March 14, 2023
3.5 stars.
This was a quick audio book listen and I enjoyed it. It had a little too many corny phrases for me to rate it any higher. 😂 There were some very good points though and it has confirmed some of what I have been thinking and feeling toward social media. One point that particularly stood out to me was that instead of focusing entirely on taking out the bad, we should be adding more good - like being in the Bible more. Sounds simple but it was a good reminder and they obviously elaborate a lot more.
*I would also like to add that I don’t know much about TGC and they did published this book. So if you hate them don’t come at me. Lol.
This was a quick audio book listen and I enjoyed it. It had a little too many corny phrases for me to rate it any higher. 😂 There were some very good points though and it has confirmed some of what I have been thinking and feeling toward social media. One point that particularly stood out to me was that instead of focusing entirely on taking out the bad, we should be adding more good - like being in the Bible more. Sounds simple but it was a good reminder and they obviously elaborate a lot more.
*I would also like to add that I don’t know much about TGC and they did published this book. So if you hate them don’t come at me. Lol.
Read
January 7, 2024I think this would be a good read with our kids before they even start to engage with social media on their own. A lot of good questions / things to think through whether already a user or not yet one.
May 30, 2024
Good little book. If I would have read this 3 years ago, it would have been life-changing. I've already set boundaries and changed my mindset around social media, so there wasn't much for me. But I plan to recommend it to so many people!
August 5, 2024
I gave this book 3 stars, only because I gave it away before finishing it. I was able to skim the whole thing, and it was a helpful and encouraging book in this world filled with technological pressure.
August 19, 2022
Excellent book!
It features a different author for each chapter. But the theme and message is congruent and very well communicated.
They get to the heart of the issues people have with social media. But they are also balanced and don’t say that everyone needs to ditch social media altogether.
They ask some really good questions in each chapter help check your heart on the matter.
I highly recommend this for any woman who uses social media!
It features a different author for each chapter. But the theme and message is congruent and very well communicated.
They get to the heart of the issues people have with social media. But they are also balanced and don’t say that everyone needs to ditch social media altogether.
They ask some really good questions in each chapter help check your heart on the matter.
I highly recommend this for any woman who uses social media!
August 17, 2022
Incredibly thought provoking. I love all these authors and feel their wisdom is very timely. There is a lot being published on how technology and social media have impacted our lives, how we think and act. I appreciated this faith-based perspective and will continue reading more on this topic.
August 19, 2022
So worth your time.
March 4, 2023
Listened on audio. Lots of good food for thought.
August 26, 2023
Highlighter happy across this whole book!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 134 reviews