We all know the feeling: you see something infuriating on social media and, before you can stop yourself, you’re typing up a storm, ready to fire off a post that will change the world. Sound familiar?
But here’s the thing: posting on social media probably won’t change anything.
Now, I’m not saying that sharing your thoughts is bad. Of course, it’s good to have a voice and to be passionate about what’s right. But if we’re expecting that one post—or even a series of posts—to change hearts, minds, or entire systems, we’re setting ourselves up for disappointment.
Before we get into WHY this doesn’t work, and better yet, what DOES work, I’m reminded of this great clip from an old SNL sketch back in the day.
Watch HERE>
So, now that we’ve had a laugh about how weak, pointless and silly posting and reacting to social media on social media is…let’s talk a bit more about why.
Why Doesn’t It Work?
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- Algorithms Work Against You Social media platforms are designed to amplify arguments, not truth. Even the most thoughtful post often gets lost unless it’s divisive enough to spark controversy.
- Surface-Level Engagement Sharing a post or a meme might feel like action, but it’s rarely transformative. It’s easy to click “share” without making any real internal shifts or taking concrete steps.
- Lack of Real Dialogue Jesus modeled deep, personal conversations that invited transformation. Social media doesn’t foster that same kind of connection—it’s more about broadcasting than listening.
In a recent article by Janus Rose at 404 Media, “You Can’t Post Your Way Out of Fascism,” the author points out that, “Authoritarians and tech CEOs now share the same goal: to keep us locked in an eternal doomscroll instead of organizing against them.”
This is so true. That’s one major reason why dunking on those people you disagree with or amplifying the voices of content creators who “crush” and “destroy” the other side doesn’t accomplish anything at all.
The main point is this: While you’re spending all your time and energy re-posting, liking and sharing to your followers on social media, what you’re NOT doing is a single thing to actually STOP what you’re raging against.
As Rose says at the top of her article,
“If there’s one thing I’d hoped people had learned going into the next four years of Donald Trump as president, it’s that spending lots of time online posting about what people in power are saying and doing is not going to accomplish anything. If anything, it’s exactly what they want.”
In other words, all that rage-posting does is enable the ones you hope to oppose.
As she continues: “The result is a media environment that keeps us in a state of debilitating fear and anger, endlessly reacting to our oppressors instead of organizing against them. To that end, the age of corporate social media has been a roaring success.”
And I am just as guilty of this as anyone else.
My Facebook feed over the last 4 weeks has been almost entirely focused on re-sharing posts from anti-MAGA sources and/or news items that sound the alarm about the latest Fascist statements or Executive Orders from the White House.
And what did that accomplish?
Not very much.
I mean, it made me feel like I was doing something. It created the illusion that I was making a difference, but in reality, not one single thing changed about any of that.
In fact, if anything, it made me feel more empty and hopeless and powerless against the Fascist regime that is forming and gaining power in our nation.
So What Can You Do Instead?
So, what should we do instead? How do we live out the reality of the Kingdom within us?
- Engage in Real Relationships Jesus spent time with people, face-to-face. He listened, loved, and challenged. We should do the same. When we have genuine conversations—with empathy and grace—hearts can change.
- Lead by Example The keys to the Kingdom are about action, not just words. Show forgiveness, generosity, and love in your daily life. These small acts demonstrate the Kingdom more powerfully than any post ever could.
- Be a Light Jesus said we are the light of the world (Matthew 5:14). Shine that light in your community through service, kindness, and love. When others see the Kingdom in you, they’re more likely to be drawn to it.
Practical Ideas For Change
If social media isn’t the place for real change, where is? Here are a few thoughts:
- Have Real Conversations Talk to people face-to-face or over the phone. When people can hear your tone and see your empathy, they’re more likely to listen and understand. Start a group that gather regularly in a public coffee shop to share ideas about how to make an impact in your community.
- Take Action Join a group that’s already working on the cause you care about. Volunteer, donate, or organize. Action speaks louder than posts. In fact, my wife and I recently joined the local chapter of Americans United for the Separation of Church and State, and we’re looking to join our local Interfaith Alliance, too. That’s just a start. We’re even planning to join a public protest in our city tonight! That’s real action.
- Model the Change Live out the values you’re passionate about. People are more likely to be influenced by what they see you doing than what they see you typing. That means, being kind, listening to others to find common ground, and spread more love and light into the world around you. The way we push back the darkness isn’t with more darkness, it’s by shining the light of love, compassion and genuine empathy, every single day.
The Kingdom Within
When we focus solely on external things—like social media—we’re at risk of missing the deeper work that’s happening in our hearts and in our lives. True change starts within, and from there, it flows outward in what we say, do, and how we live.
Jesus said, “The Kingdom of God is within you” (Luke 17:21). That’s a powerful statement. It means the real change we’re looking for doesn’t come from external platforms or performances. It comes from what we do with the keys to the Kingdom that Jesus has entrusted to us.
He also said he was giving us, his followers, the keys to the Kingdom of God (Matt. 16:19). That means “whatever we bind on earth will be bound in the Kingdom, and whatever we loose on earth will be set free in the Kingdom of God.”
So…what are doing with those keys?
For the last 2,000 years or so, the Christian Church has been more interested on binding people up into fear, shame and guilt. That’s partly how we’ve arrived at this moment in history.
So, maybe it’s time for us to use those keys to the Kingdom as a way to set people free from fear, and shame, and guilt? Maybe, just maybe, we need to find ways to set people around us free from this constant “Us vs Them” mentality.
Because the reality is that we are all the Children of God. There is only one race: the human race.
Let’s emphasize that and stop perpetuating the illusions of separation that enslave all of us. Whether that’s Male vs Female, Black vs White, Young vs Old, Democrat vs Republican, American vs Russian, Gay vs Straight, etc.
All of that is an illusion created by people in power as a way of maintaining their power over us.
We cannot continue to believe these lies.
It’s time to wake up, stand up, and speak up for the truth that we are all made in the image of the same loving God.
We belong to one another. We all share a Divine identity and a Human fingerprint.
Everything else is propaganda.
The Bottom Line
If you really want to see change, it’s going to take more than just posting on social media.
Let’s move beyond performative activism and step into meaningful action. That’s where the real impact happens.
As for me, I’ve decided to take an entire week [at least to start with] where I do not share or reshare or post ANYTHING on my social media pages related to amplifying the actions of the Fascists or dunking on those who go along.
Instead, I’m working on creating positive energy, reminding everyone how we all have a shared Divinity and a shared Humanity. I’m going to focus on shining my light and being a light to everyone around me.
There are so many ways for us to engage in tangible acts of resistance that really do make a difference. We can frequent minority-owned businesses, elevate the positive work being done in our community to increase empathy, and get to work ourselves putting our hands and feet in the fight against Fascism.
Because darkness is merely the absence of light, and all the darkness in the universe cannot extinguish a single flame.
Let’s stop posting our way out of Fascism.
Let’s start loving our way into the world we want to leave behind for the next generation.
Let peace begin, and let it begin with me.
The newest book from Keith Giles, “The Quantum Sayings of Jesus: Decoding the Lost Gospel of Thomas” is available now on Amazon. Order HERE>
Keith Giles is the best-selling author of the Jesus Un series. He has appeared on CNN, USA Today, BuzzFeed, and John Fugelsang’s “Tell Me Everything.”
He co-hosts The Heretic Happy Hour Podcast and his solo podcast, Second Cup With Keith which are both available on Spotify, Amazon, Apple, Podbean or wherever you find great podcasts.
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