Denzel Washington Calls Social Media ‘Spiritual Warfare,’ Tells Young People to ‘Turn It Off’
By Movieguide® Contributor
Denzel Washington recently expressed his views on social media and what young people can do to combat its harmful effects.
“The No. 1 photograph today is a selfie, ‘Oh, me at the protest.’ ‘Me with the fire.’ ‘Follow me.’ ‘Listen to me,'” he told the New York Times. “The Bible says in the last days – I don’t know if it’s the last days, it’s not my place to know – but it says we’ll be lovers of ourselves. We’re living in a time where people are willing to do anything to get followed.”
“This is spiritual warfare. So, I’m not looking at it from an earthly perspective,” he continued. “If you don’t have a spiritual anchor you’ll be easily blown by the wind and you’ll be led to depression.”
Washington also advised young people who spend time on apps like Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat.
“Turn it off. It’s hard for young people now because they’re addicted,” the actor advised. “If you don’t think you’re addicted, see if you can turn it off for a week.”
Washington has always been vocal about Christianity and explained how faith helps him overcome fear.
“I’m a God-fearing man,” he said in the same interview. “I try not to worry. Fear is contaminated faith.”
Movieguide® previously reported on the dangers of social media:
Teenagers who spend more time on social media have increased depression, according to recent studies. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a study placing suicide as the second leading cause of death amongst individuals aged 10-34.
Social media is not the direct cause but rather the correlation between the spike in depression and its use. The basic human to human interaction has been lost on many levels through social media.
Cyberbullying effects 60% of all students. This leads to one in four girls self-harming, and one in ten boys doing the same.
Bergen Facebook Scale (BFAS) is a scale developed by scientists to measure addiction in people who use Facebook. The sole purpose of the scale was to see the increase of addiction to Facebook over time. The results concluded that Social media is more addictive than cigarettes according to an additional study done by the University of Chicago.
Social media is also linked to worse posture, often including a depressed rib cage, internally rotated shoulders, rounded upper back, forward head posture, and lower back pain. As we spend on average 8 ½ hours in front of screens, the best way to combat this is to be on our phones less.
Procrastination is easily accessed through screens. The choice to complete homework or scroll through Instagram will typically be the latter.
Nomophobia, the irrational fear of being without a cellphone is rising in teenagers along with Internet Addiction Disorder. Nomophobia effects 53% of all mobile users, shown in a study done in the U.K. Only 47% of mobile users felt that they could turn their phones off without anxiety.
Not everyone who uses a cell phone is addicted. You can spend a large amount of time in front of a screen and not be addicted to the internet, have fantastic social skills, and not suffer from depression. However, the increased use of mobile phones have inevitably affected several people.
Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.
What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.
You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.
Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.
Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.
What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.
You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.
Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.
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