"Let your conversation always be full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone." Colossi ans 4:6 NIV

Megan Markle (Duchess of Sussex) recently addressed a group in Austin, TX about how badly she was "bullied" on social media during both of her pregnacies. She blamed the toxic things being said about her on social media platforms simply as coming "from cruel people" and gives partial blame to YouTube because they are hosted to a lot of hate and rhetoric through their members whose create pages and spew their comments that are very damaging to the mental health of their targets and others who read these vile comments.

"A soft word turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger" Proverbs 15:1 NIV

This normally what you expect to hear from victims of cyber bulling, but Megan brings up something we should all think about which is that most of us will pass those toxic comments along to our contacts, thereby giving these unregulated and cruel comments an even wider audience.

"But I tell you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you" Matthew 5:44 NIV

If the social media platforms will not regulate "hate" comments in the name of free speech and profits*, then let us resolve not to pass such harmful words onto others. There will always be those who feel good when they make others suffer or feel bad about themselves and are left asking "why me", but such toxic people (both men and women equally) should not be incentivized by Christians, nor should Christians be posting nor passing on such venomous cruelty to others.

"Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." Psalm 139:23-24

Have you ever been bullied online by a Christian? Or worse yet, have you ever bullied another person online?

* Ad spending in the Social Media market is projected to reach 220 Billion Dollars in 2024, with Facebook (3 billion users) and Instagram being responsible for about 50% of the revenue generated by social networrking apps. - "Social Media Advertising - Global Market Forecast", Statista

Note - There were 5 billion social networking active in the world during 2023. - Statista

Rik Charbonneaux is a retired NE Iowan who loves all of God's Word and all of His creatures.