Social media challenges: Would you blurt out your secrets in an online game?
A woman scrolls through social media. My friends are always curious about what I do with all the photos and videos I take, especially since my social media rarely gets updated with fresh posts.
What you need to know:
- I started out amused by TikTok's "we listen; we don't judge" challenges, especially loving how Christian content creators turned Bible stories like Solomon's into trendy confessions.
- When my friends firmly refused to join me in making these videos, their wisdom led me to seriously reflect on the risks of oversharing online.
- I've now embraced their perspective, keeping my private moments truly private - reserved only for my inner circle and eventual memoirs rather than turning them into social media entertainment.
“We listen…”
If you completed that line for me, you’re exactly the person I want to hear from today. Have you ever shared a secret through TikTok’s “we listen; we don’t judge” or “suspect” challenges? I’ve been cracking up at the hilarious ways Christian content creators spin Bible narratives into these trends. My favourite? The scripted stories of Solomon and Abraham.
Picture Solomon confessing, “I have 700 wives and 300 concubines,” and coolly responding to your shock with, “We listen; we don’t judge.” But amidst the laughs, some videos left me worried — people revealing the most sensitive details of their lives. Well, it’s their choice, I suppose. But here’s my question: would you spill your secrets on social media?
I had hoped that for this particular column, I would regale you with laughter about how that challenge went when I tried it with some of my friends. Unfortunately, they all said a firm no because in their books, it is not normal to have your secrets on social media. Eventually, I moved the conversation from trying to convince them to participate in the challenges, to understanding their reservations, and generally having the conversation about why social media is not the best place to keep secrets.
For one, it is not entirely dangerous to participate in such (social media) games. In fact, one friend saw them as an avenue for family members and close friends to bond. And I agreed with that perspective because essentially that is what games are usually about – whether these are at corporate events or during family gatherings and parties of other kinds. The difference comes when such moments are posted online because you invite an audience that becomes rightfully entitled to your private life.
My friends are always curious about what I do with all the photos and videos I take, especially since my social media rarely gets updated with fresh posts. The truth is simple: most of these moments are private treasures. When I capture them, it’s usually for a small audience — just one or two close friends, my family, or my personal journaling. These snapshots are my breadcrumbs for when I finally sit down to write my memoirs. Sharing them with the world? That’s a different ballgame. A lot can get lost in translation when you post for a big audience. So no, you won’t find me uploading a funny dance video just for laughs. I know the deal — once something hits social media, you become fair game for all kinds of comments and even scrutiny. You can’t cry “invasion of privacy” when you’ve handed over the keys. If you choose that path, you’d better have a thick skin to go with it.
While these challenges can be all fun and games, things quickly take a turn when people get carried away — or downright unhinged. That’s where the danger lies, and it’s one reason my friends flat-out refuse to join in. One friend pointed to a particular video where a young couple shared way too much information. “In one, the woman says her husband uses the toilet and doesn’t flush. Do we really need to know that? Do we need to know what happens in their home?” she asked, disbelievingly.
I watched the video too, and honestly, it was cringe-worthy. My friend mentioned it attracted plenty of trolls on social media, but even without them, I couldn’t wrap my head around why anyone would share such personal details. I always assumed these ‘challenges’ were scripted, meaning nothing said during filming should come as a surprise. If I were married, there’s no way I’d be okay with people thinking my husband doesn’t flush the toilet— whether this is true or not. But hey, as they say, different strokes for different folks.
In conclusion, I guess what I am saying is that, like my friends, the boundary line between what is private and what is public is very clear in my life, and I am unlikely to ever breach my personal life to create entertainment for social media. My secrets remain reserved for my inner circle and my therapist.
The writer is the Research & Impact Editor, NMG; [email protected]
