We live in a world where our thumbs know more about our habits than we do. Every day, we scroll through content curated by an invisible force—the algorithm. It feeds us what’s trending, what’s viral, what’s loud. And while it’s skilled at grabbing our attention, it rarely nourishes our soul.
The truth is, the algorithm is not your friend. It’s a finely tuned machine designed to prioritize what’s new, not what’s true. It thrives on keeping you in a cycle of urgency—”watch this now,” “don’t miss out,” “just one more scroll.” This constant stream of novelty can feel engaging, even addictive. But it leaves little or no room for the slow, sacred work of spiritual depth.
But here’s the hope: You don’t have to be at the mercy of the feed. You can turn the internet from a noisy marketplace into a digital monastery.
1. Resist the Virality Trap
Virality often amplifies what shocks, not what sanctifies. Instead of letting the feed dictate what you consume, go looking.
Seek out voices that aren’t viral, but deeply rooted—authors, pastors, theologians, and faithful thinkers who have walked with God long before the noise of social media ever existed. These voices may not appear on your feed every day, but they carry a kind of wisdom that endures beyond trends. Books such as The Divine Initiative & The Human Response by Dwaine AJ Whogoes offer timeless guidance on integrating faith with the complexities of modern life, showing how the eternal truths of Scripture meet today’s challenges. In his writings, he reminds us that genuine spiritual formation is not about what sparks instant reactions, but about what slowly reshapes our hearts. These deeper dives rarely go viral, but they hold the power to transform your soul, cultivate lasting faith, and draw you closer to God in ways that a quick scroll never could.
2. Dig Through the Digital Archives
The internet may reward the new, but it remembers the old. Hidden in archives, back catalogs, and forgotten blog posts are sermons, devotionals, and stories of believers who’ve walked the path before us. Look past the trending tab. Search intentionally.
Learn how past generations wrestled with doubt, practiced discipline, and lived out radical obedience. The cloud of witnesses isn’t just in heaven—it’s in the browser history you haven’t explored yet.
3. Curate Instead of Consume
Take charge of what you see. Follow accounts that challenge your heart, not just your attention span. Save long-form content to revisit. Subscribe to newsletters or audio devotionals that provide structure beyond the scroll. Replace endless consumption with careful curation.
4. Anchor with Offline Wisdom
Books are the unscrollable treasures that offer something the internet rarely does: depth over speed. Start building a spiritual library, old or new.
Use technology to find them, but let the reading happen away from distractions. Books like The Divine Initiative & The Human Response offer a fusion of theology and practicality that few TikToks ever could.
5. Be a Seeker, Not Just a Scroller
Scrolling is passive. Seeking is intentional. Ask challenging questions: How does God want me to grow today? What voices am I listening to? Am I forming my faith or just reacting to content? Let your online time reflect a spiritual hunger, not just a mental habit.
The algorithm wants your attention. God wants your transformation. One leads to endless distraction. The other, to eternal bliss.
Choose to seek. Choose to dig. Choose depth over dopamine.
Read The Divine Initiative & The Human Response by Dwaine AJ Whogoes, now on Amazon.
