A few weeks ago, Kristen Pickens and I were sitting outside savoring lunch at a local deli while also enjoying the sunshine. Much of the conversation centered around some really creative initiatives that this emerging adult was implementing with SAAC (Student-Athlete Advisory Committee) and the buzz that it had generated on campus. Sharing with her the positive aspects (and competitiveness) I had witnessed among our athletes, we viewed some of the videos posted on Instagram, appreciating how clever some participants were in scheming to earn points in the Bulldog Blast. Elli Pratt even created a humorous video to the Jonas Brothers’ song Paranoid expressing her feelings of peaking around every corner in search of someone out to spray her with water. It was fun watching our coaches and athletic director, Tommy Sadler, participate good naturedly in the fundraiser for a good cause.

As the conversation bounced between creating a culture in athletics and consideration for opportunities available to Kristen after graduation, I offered a suggestion that it is sometimes wise to track statistics to demonstrate how initiatives such as the Bulldog Blast engage a certain demographic. Posing the question if she could track the number of followers to union_saac on Instagram prior to the competition and now, my thoughts focused on how to translate the spirit of the activity onto a resume. Working with sport management students whose work will frequently be completed behind the scenes and out of the spotlight, the need for tangible evidence of their efforts is needed. In education, we often use the term value-added in efforts to acknowledge how an organization/position might improve as a result of who God created you to be and the work you are accomplishing.

Admittedly; however, focusing on statistics such as the numbers of “likes” and “follows” can also have negative consequences as one becomes vulnerable to depending on social media to determine self-worth. Because emerging adults are considered digital natives and social media is such an inherent aspect to their lives, there is a connection between identity formation and what fills their thoughts and minds. In addition to identity formation, there comes a risk of the comparison trap as people compare an everyday Tuesday in their life to the photos of a highlight reel from a friend’s life.

So, how does an emerging adult, or even a Gen Xer like me, utilize the benefits of social media in our lives without becoming narcissistic when viewing the statistics. As a person who finds pleasure in numbers and data, it is easy for me to focus on how few followers there are to this flourishing blog rather than on the importance of being obedient to the Lord nudging me to write regardless of who chooses to read. How much more significance is there when my focus shifts to following Him rather than on who is following me? Although a visit to the Word Press page allows me to view the number of follows and likes, my focus should be on the purpose of engaging others in the content presented rather than how popular a certain post might be.

In the book Identity Theft, the authors express concern related to living in a culture that encourages us to “garnish attention for ourselves” and “to be praised for our unique insight, brilliant creativity…expertise” to the point that “although we don’t want to admit it, we want to be worshiped.” What guardrails can be erected in place to prevent us from worshiping ourselves over the God who created not only our personal lives, but all the worldly things we choose to follow and like? If this struggle is so evident in my life, how much more so must it be for those still forming their identity in adolescence and emerging adulthood?

Please feel free to share in the comments below any thoughts you have on navigating this World of Likes and Follows, especially successful strategies for guarding hearts against a focus on self and a refocusing on others and Christ.