Algorithmic Manipulation: How Social Media is Shaping our Theology

The average individual in Generation Z spends nine hours a day on social media and derives over 62% of the information retained from social applications such as YouTube and Instagram. Social media applications are designed to track and adapt a user\u27s activity to custom-tailor their internet experience resulting in a controlled, one-sided view of the information flow custom-tailored to an individual\u27s usage, which subtly changes the disposition concerning the interpretation of theological and biblical truths. The algorithm of social media responds adapts and directly impacts individuals in what they think, purchase, and places they visit. Social media is not neutral in its approach to sway opinion and to mislead Christian doctrine. The impact and misleading of influencers on social media platforms directly affect the cognitive functions of Christians regarding critical thinking for acceptance of the following, acceptance into the sub-culture of social media, driven by the need for uniqueness and individuality. The invasion and permeation of non-orthodox beliefs and heretical views of Christian theology spread from individual-to-individual leaving doubt regarding one\u27s epistemology on Scriptural truth claims