As college students in 2025, we are constantly bombarded with a vast amount of information. Platforms like TikTok, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and others have a significant influence over our lives, with the latest trends dictating what some people wear, eat, or even think.
Recently, there has been an influx of people who use social media platforms as their primary news source, without ever fact-checking themselves. They then spread the same misinformation to others who may not be using social media, and those people will believe them out of trust.
While social media can be a vital source for staying informed, it is also home to a huge collection of misinformation. The algorithms used by social media are designed to show us what they think we would like as a way to convince us to continue to use their app, but because of this, an “echo chamber effect” usually begins to occur for some. This is the phenomenon that happens when somebody’s beliefs are consistently reinforced by repeated exposure, making it easier to dehumanize others or assume the worst about people who think differently.
Online culture is very fast paced, and in an attempt to keep up with it, people absorb anything that they read and information that they can take in. This allows misinformation to spread much faster than normal.
Now you might be asking yourself, “why would people even want to share misinformation on social media?” In most cases, it’s not always intentional. Some people give false or misleading information because they feel it aligns with their emotions or political beliefs, and if it feels true, they assume it is.
Unfortunately, there are others who post exaggerated claims intentionally because they know it will get more attention. The addiction to ‘likes’ creates a sense of reward that can make spreading misinformation feel powerful or important. On a larger scale, some groups deliberately spread misinformation to manipulate public opinion or sow division for political gain.
As followers of Christ, we are supposed to rise above this misinformation by identifying truth within a message before endorsing it. From a biblical perspective, this is called self-control. Proverbs 18:13 says, “To answer before listening, that is folly and shame.” This verse is tied to how we consume and respond to political content online. Before we share or comment, Scripture wants us to understand. Similarly, James 1:19 encourages believers to be “quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry.”
We have a responsibility as Christians to emphasize biblical truth. The Apostle Paul reminds us in Colossians 3:17, “Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus.” And even though there wasn’t social media in Jesus’ time, these truths still apply for our own posts and comments today.
Social media is neither entirely good nor entirely bad. It should be used as a tool, not a source. The way we use it determines whether it becomes a useful source of knowledge or a weapon that encourages polarization. If college students approached politics on social media with biblical wisdom, listening before speaking, verifying before sharing, and loving before judging, the digital world would look very different. It’s time for us to reflect Christ even in the most divided spaces.
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