The internet isn’t just chaotic anymore. It’s curated chaos—algorithmically tailored to your most reactive instincts. That’s how a blurry screenshot with all caps and zero sources can still rack up 3 million shares. Or how someone on TikTok can casually say “NASA admitted the moon isn’t real” and suddenly half the comment section is nodding along.
This is the digital world in 2025: loud, fast, suspiciously confident and increasingly fake. AI doesn’t care about truth. Neither do algorithms. And in that noise, Christians are often just… reposting. Reacting. Accidentally helping false stories go viral in the name of staying informed or being “discerning.”
But discernment isn’t about vibes. It’s about testing everything—even the things that feel right. Especially those.
“When Christians amplify misinformation, it damages our credibility in the public square,” says Dr. Drew Dickens, a clinical psychologist who studies the intersection of faith and technology. “We become noise instead of light.”
Paul’s words in 1 Thessalonians 5:21 still hold up: “Test everything; hold fast to what is good.” That includes the stuff on your feed.
Here’s how to actually do that.
Check the source
Before you share something, ask yourself: Where is this coming from? Is it a reputable outlet like AP, NPR or Reuters — or a sketchy-looking blog plastered with pop-up ads and “one weird trick” headlines?
Questionable sites can dress themselves up to look legitimate. That doesn’t mean they are. A quick search of the outlet’s name plus “credibility” can save you from reposting digital garbage in Jesus’ name.
“People are trusting outputs from unknown sources — often AI — without asking who built it or what worldview it’s based on,” Dickens said. “That’s a spiritual issue.”
Don’t fall for clickbait
“Aliens Found Working at Starbucks” might make you click, but it shouldn’t make you share. Outrage headlines are engineered to spark emotion, not inform you. If something feels too wild to be true, it probably is.
Even if it is true, headlines often distort or oversimplify the story. Read past the headline. Find out what’s actually being reported.
Pro tip: Rage is profitable. Don’t give misinformation the clicks it’s designed to exploit.
Investigate the author
Who wrote this? A veteran journalist with editorial accountability — or someone with no byline and a history of unhinged Facebook comments? If the article doesn’t list an author, or if the person behind it has zero expertise, take it with a handful of salt.
Red flag: If someone with no medical background is writing about vaccines, you can probably go ahead and close the tab.
Cross-check with other sources
Real news spreads. If something huge is happening, other outlets will cover it. If only one sketchy site is talking about it, chances are it’s either fake, misleading or deeply out of context.
Use fact-checking sites like Snopes, PolitiFact or FactCheck.org. Or do the old-fashioned thing: Google it. If you can’t find multiple trusted sources reporting the same facts, don’t post it.
Proverbs 18:17 puts it this way: “The first to present his case seems right, till another comes forward and questions him.”
Analyze the visuals
AI-generated images and deepfakes are flooding timelines — and they’re getting good. A politician saying something outrageous. A blurry photo of “proof” that NASA faked something. A spiritual quote with a pastor’s name slapped on it.
“Deepfakes are emotionally manipulative because they feel real,” Dickens said. “And when our brains are in emotional mode, we stop thinking critically.”
Use reverse image tools like Google Images or TinEye to check where an image originated. And trust your instincts — if it looks like it was filtered through a Motorola Razr in 2006, maybe keep scrolling.
Check the date
Sometimes real news gets recycled as fresh outrage. That video? It’s from 2014. That headline? It was debunked two years ago. Sharing old stories out of context confuses people and spreads unnecessary panic.
Red flag: If something seems way out of sync with what’s happening now, double check the publish date.
Watch for bias
Every outlet has a slant. That’s not always bad — but if something is loaded with emotionally charged language, hyperbole or treats opposing views as evil, it’s pushing an agenda.
That doesn’t mean you need to avoid all opinionated writing. Just don’t build your worldview on it.
Pro tip: Reading a variety of trusted sources helps you spot patterns, challenge assumptions and develop a fuller understanding of what’s actually happening.
Be skeptical of viral posts
Just because something has 5 million shares doesn’t mean it’s true. Social media rewards shock, not accuracy. The more outrageous, the more it spreads.
That viral post about a secret global takeover? Probably written by a guy in his basement with Canva Pro. Check for sources. If there are none — or if the post relies on ALL CAPS and vague warnings — pause before you amplify it.
“Viral doesn’t mean vetted,” Dickens said. “And the louder something is online, the more we need to ask: Who’s behind this? And what are they hoping I’ll believe?”
Trust your gut — then check your gut
If something feels off, it probably is. But don’t stop there. Ask: Does this align with reality? Where’s it coming from? Have I seen it elsewhere?
Trust your instincts — but don’t rely on them blindly. Let discernment and curiosity work together.
Why this matters
Misinformation isn’t just an internet annoyance. It’s a spiritual integrity issue. Sharing fake news, half-truths or AI-generated junk erodes trust — not just in media, but in the people who spread it.
“When people see Christians reposting conspiracies or quoting AI like it’s Scripture, it hurts our witness,” Dickens said. “We’re called to reflect truth — not just feel right.”
You don’t need to be a digital expert to be discerning. You just need to slow down. Ask good questions. Stay curious. And remember that faith isn’t afraid of the facts.
Clicks have consequences. Let’s use them wisely.
