The Bible records several times where Jesus says that it’s out of the overflow of the heart that mouth speaks. What we say, reveals the condition of our hearts. And just as spoken words offer a window into one’s soul, so do the words and pictures that we post on social media. In today’s social media saturated world, one of the best ways to learn about our kids is to monitor what they are posting online. Many kids engage in a practice known as sadfishing. In case you’ve never heard of it, sadfishing is the act of making exaggerated claims about one’s emotional problems to generate sympathy. In many cases, these posts are an attempt to get attention. In other cases, kids who are struggling deeply are crying out for help. In all cases of sadfishing, we need to follow up what we see online with questions so that we might determine if the poster is truly hurting and in need of help, or simply looking for affirmation. Monitor your kids in an effort to help them navigate their teen years in healthy, God-honoring ways.
Sadfishing
February 18, 2020