在巴别塔的事件中，是神阻止了人们实现“梦想”的妄想，而现在的社交平台作为当初的社交工具已经逐渐偏离合一的目标🎯，成为实现社会共同目标的羁绊。
    近几年主流社交平台已成为现代大众的重要交流工具，但其缺点也逐渐凸显。现代社会中，人际关系变得更加复杂和多样，朋友圈中的好友关系从亲密到疏远不一而足。很多时候，朋友圈中的互动仅限于表面上的点赞和评论，缺乏深度的交流和情感联络。朋友圈中展示的多是经过选择的正面信息，真实情况可能被掩盖，容易导致人与人之间的误解。另外，由于朋友圈是一个展示平台，人们常常感受到无形的社交压力，比如看到他人展示生活的美好、分享成功的瞬间等之后，产生自卑或焦虑。

巴别塔现象

    圣经中的巴别塔故事讲述了人类试图建造一座高塔，以达到天上与神享受同等荣耀。这种统一的语言和目标最终被神打乱，导致人们语言不通，四散到地球各地。这一故事反映了人类在追求高度统一和联系中的妄想，忘记了神造人的初衷。

    如今的社交平台是这个巴别塔被神打破语言统一状态后的逆向延伸升级版，之所以说是逆向延伸，是因为人们被另一个‘神’吸引，牠就是‘资本造物主’。人们越来越幻想以个人为中心的精神追求，反而在社会共同价值观的追求方面彻底丧失，对社会灰点的反应不过是回应一个‘水面被击打后的水花’便销声匿迹，缺少集体的、共同价值导向的共鸣和追求，精致的利己主义已不再需要‘资本造物主’担心人们‘通天’的决心。

短视频的影响

    尽管社交媒体提供了前所未有的连接机会，但同时也制造了新的分裂和混乱：沟通的障碍、信息的碎片化、虚拟与现实的分离等等。特别是短视频平台如抖音、快手等的兴起，占用了人们大量时间，带来了以下问题：

时间占用：短视频因其内容丰富、更新快、娱乐性强，极易占用大量时间，用户往往在不知不觉中消耗了宝贵的时间。
深度思考的缺失：短视频内容多以娱乐为主，缺乏深度讨论和思考，用户长期沉迷于此，容易导致注意力分散，无法进行深度思考和学习。
社会共鸣的缺乏：虽然短视频平台能迅速传播信息，但其内容碎片化，无法形成长久的社会共鸣和深刻的讨论。用户很难在这些平台上找到共同责任感和社会使命感。

如何突破巴别塔现象

    今天的我们应该意识到，社交媒体是人们交流的一个工具而已，我们的沟通和交流在于心灵与神的交流而非建造巴别塔，社会共同价值导向的共鸣和追求在于个人的提升、践行以及由此带来的共鸣，而不是按照‘资本造物主’指引的虚假目标。

    面对现代社交媒体带来的挑战，基督门徒需要在以下几个方面不断加强：

自省与祷告：圣经鼓励信徒通过祷告和自省来保持心灵的纯净和与神的联系。耶稣在《马太福音》6:6中说：“你祷告的时候，要进你的内室，关上门，祷告你在暗中的父。”

真实与诚实：在社交媒体上保持真实，避免虚假展示，做到言行一致，不作伪装。耶稣说：“你们的话，是，就说是；不是，就说不是。”（马太福音 5:37）

有选择地分享：谨慎选择分享的内容，保护自己的隐私，同时避免过度依赖社交媒体的点赞和评论来获得认同。也应避免另一个极端：如同一个隐身人不与任何人分享（除非生活工作繁忙），要知道，门徒之间践行主道的见证是最有说服力的榜样。

注重现实生活中的关系：多花时间在现实生活中的亲友关系上，进行面对面的沟通和互动，既高效又温馨。

特别注意短视频的挑战：基督门徒应特别警惕短视频对时间和注意力的侵蚀。圣经教导我们要善用时间：“你们要谨慎行事，不要像愚昧人，当像智慧人，要爱惜光阴，因为现今的世代邪恶。”（以弗所书5:15-16）；合理安排短视频的观看时间，不要让它占用过多的时间；关注有教育意义和启发性的内容，避免低俗和无意义的信息；利用社交平台参与深度讨论，分享见解和感受，促进思想的交流和碰撞。

结语

    微信朋友圈作为现代社交的一个重要平台，反映了社会中人们之间复杂多样的关系。通过朋友圈，人们可以便捷地沟通和互动，但也面临隐私泄露、社交压力等问题。现代社交媒体的巴别塔现象提示我们，尽管技术提供了更多的连接机会，但真正的理解和联系需要更多的努力和真诚。在此过程中，基督徒可以通过圣经的教导，保持心灵的纯净，积极行动，建立更加真实和有意义的人际关系，促进和谐社会的进步和实现。

   （如有建议敬请留言讨论，邮箱：[email protected]）

Deviations of Social Platforms and the Babel Tower Phenomenon

In the story of the Tower of Babel, God thwarted humanity’s delusional ambition to build a tower to rival His glory. Today, social platforms—once pure tools for communication—have gradually strayed from the goal of unity, becoming obstacles to achieving common social objectives.

In recent years, mainstream social media has become a major tool of communication for the masses, yet its shortcomings have also become increasingly evident. In modern society, interpersonal relationships have grown more complex and diverse; friendships in online circles range from close to distant. Often, interactions in these circles are limited to superficial likes and comments without deep communication or emotional connection. What’s shown in our online friend circles is frequently a curated picture of positivity, which may mask reality and lead to misunderstandings. Moreover, because social media is a display platform, people often feel an invisible pressure—seeing others share beautiful lives or moments of success can induce feelings of inferiority or anxiety.

The Babel Tower Phenomenon

The Tower of Babel story describes humanity’s attempt to build a tower to reach heaven and share in God’s glory, only to have their unified language and purpose disrupted by God, causing them to scatter across the earth. This story illustrates humanity’s delusion in pursuing absolute unity and connection while forgetting God’s original intent for our creation.

Today’s social platforms can be seen as a reverse and evolved version of that Babel Tower—where people are drawn instead to another “god,” the “creator of capital.” Increasingly, individuals pursue a self-centered spiritual quest, and in the process, they lose the ability to resonate on common values. Responses to social issues become as fleeting as “droplets on water” after disturbance, lacking collective, value-driven resonance and pursuit. Refined self-centered individualism now requires little fear of a determined will to “reach the heavens” under the mandate of the “capital creator.”

The Impact of Short Videos

While social media offers unprecedented opportunities for connection, it simultaneously creates new divisions and chaos—communication barriers, fragmented information, and a separation between the virtual and the real. The rise of short video platforms like Douyin and Kuaishou has also led to several issues:

• Time Consumption: Short videos are rich in content, quickly updated, and highly entertaining, easily consuming substantial time without users realizing it.
• Lack of Depth: Such content is primarily for entertainment, lacking substantive discussion and reflection. Prolonged engagement leads to distracted attention and hampers deep thought and learning.
• Lack of Shared Resonance: Although short video platforms can rapidly spread information, their fragmented nature prevents the formation of lasting social resonance and in-depth discussion. Users often struggle to develop a sense of collective responsibility or a shared social mission.

How to Overcome the Babel Tower Phenomenon

We must recognize that social media is simply a tool for communication. Real communication and connection depend on a dialogue between our hearts—and with God—rather than on building another Babel Tower. True shared values and common goals come from personal growth, practical action, and the natural resonance that follows, not from pursuing false targets dictated by the “capital creator.”

In facing these challenges posed by modern social media, Christian disciples need to strengthen themselves in several areas:

• Self-Examination and Prayer: The Bible encourages believers to maintain a pure heart and connection with God through prayer and self-reflection. Jesus said in Matthew 6:6, “But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen.”
• Authenticity and Honesty: Stay genuine online. Avoid false portrayals and ensure that your words and actions are consistent. Jesus said, “Let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No’” (Matthew 5:37).
• Selective Sharing: Be discerning about what you share, protect your privacy, and avoid relying excessively on likes and comments for validation. At the same time, do not hide completely; remember that the testimony of fellow disciples who practice the Way is a powerful example.
• Prioritize Real-Life Relationships: Invest more time in developing face-to-face interactions and relationships, which foster more genuine and warm communication.
• Be Wary of the Drawbacks of Short Videos: Christian disciples should especially guard against the time and attention drain posed by short video platforms. The Bible reminds us to “make the most of every opportunity” (Ephesians 5:15–16). Allocate time for short videos wisely, focus on content that is edifying and meaningful, and engage in deep discussions that foster thoughtful exchange.

Conclusion

WeChat Moments, as an important modern social platform, reflects the complex and varied relationships among people. While it allows for convenient communication and interaction, it also brings challenges such as privacy issues and social pressure. The Babel Tower phenomenon of modern social media reminds us that although technology offers numerous opportunities for connection, true understanding and connection require sincerity and active effort.

Modern social communication is laden with complexities— from historical and cultural influences to the rise of individualism, utilitarianism, and the technological regulation of language. The absence of critical thinking, fueled by test-based education, further limits deep dialogue. Nonetheless, through educational reform, civic awareness, personal initiative, and a balanced integration of rationality and faith (as taught in Christianity), we can overcome these challenges. By fostering genuine, face-to-face relationships and carefully navigating social media’s pitfalls, we can forge connections that reflect our shared values and collective social responsibility. 

In this process, Christians can draw on biblical teaching to maintain a pure heart and take proactive steps in building more authentic and meaningful relationships, thereby promoting progress toward a harmonious society.

May every believer and every friend find true strength and understanding in these efforts, and may our lives be filled with the peace and joy of living out our faith authentically in both our online and offline communities.

Let us pray together!