10 more myths about church social media that shouldn’t exist in 2023

I have vivid memories of the summer of 2005, being in my friends basement with several other recent high school graduates talking about connecting with our soon to be college roommates on Myspace, when someone chimed in that the next big thing was the Facebook. It wasn’t for everyone, his college had just unlocked it, and you had to have a few hundred student emails sign a petition for them to consider adding your school to their database. In that moment, none of us could have predicted how massive Facebook would become, and for sure, I had zero idea the impact it would have on my own life.

Since the introduction of Facebook pages in 2007, my focus has been to help churches maximize the incredible potential of social media to spread their message of hope and positivity. In my journey of working with diverse congregations, I've gained invaluable insights into the unique challenges they face in embracing the digital landscape. While some churches have enthusiastically adopted social media, others remain hesitant due to certain misconceptions.

Today, I am excited to share my thoughts on the 10 most common myths about church social media and provide clarity on these misconceptions to encourage more churches to fully utilize these powerful platforms.

1. Social media is just for young people.

While it's true that social media is popular among young people, it's also used by people of all ages. In fact, a recent study found that 67% of adults in the United States use social media. So if you're thinking that your church's social media presence is only reaching young people, you're wrong.

2. Social media is just for sharing pictures and videos.

While pictures and videos can be a great way to engage your audience on social media, there's much more you can do. You can use social media to share articles, blog posts, devotionals, and other content that will help people grow in their faith. You can also use social media to connect with your congregation, build relationships, and serve your community.

3. Social media is only for promoting your church events.

While it's important to promote your church events on social media, it's not the only thing you should be doing. You can also use social media to share stories about your church's ministry, introduce your staff and volunteers, and answer questions from your congregation.

4. Social media is too time-consuming.

It's true that social media can be time-consuming, but it doesn't have to be. If you set aside some time each week to plan and post content, you can easily manage your church's social media presence without spending hours each day on it.

5. Social media is too complicated.

There's a lot of information out there about social media, and it can be overwhelming to know where to start. But don't worry, you don't need to be an expert to use social media effectively. Just start by creating a few simple posts and see how it goes. You can always learn more as you go.

6. Social media is not safe.

It's true that there are some risks associated with using social media, but there are also risks associated with any form of communication. The important thing is to be aware of the risks and take steps to protect yourself and your church. For example, you can use privacy settings to control who sees your content and you can report any inappropriate or offensive content that you see.

7. Social media is not effective.

A lot of people think that social media is not effective for reaching people with the gospel. But the truth is, social media can be a powerful tool for evangelism. In fact, a recent study found that 38% of people who have come to faith in Christ in the past five years have done so through social media.

8. My church is too small to use social media.

No matter how big or small your church is, you can use social media to reach people with the gospel. In fact, smaller churches often have an advantage on social media because they can be more personal and engaging with their audience.

9. I don't have the time or skills to use social media.

If you don't have the time or skills to use social media, you can always ask someone else to help you. There are many volunteers who would be happy to help your church with its social media presence. You can also hire a social media manager to help you get started.

10. My church doesn't need social media.

In the past, churches could reach people with the gospel without using social media. But in today's world, social media is an essential tool for reaching people with the gospel. If you want your church to be effective in reaching people with the gospel, you need to be using social media.