Life Skills
When the Internet Fills You with Anger, Here Are 3 Ways to Be a Peacemaker
How can you act as a disciple of Christ in a contention-filled online world?
I don’t know about you, but seeing harsh comments on social media sometimes fills me with rage.
I’m glad to live in a world where we can share and discover information and connect with others on social media, but there’s also a whole lot of contention, misinformation, and even hostility.
As President Russell M. Nelson (1924–2025) said:
“The present hostility in public dialogue and on social media is alarming. Hateful words are deadly weapons. Contention prevents the Holy Ghost from being our constant companion.
“As followers of Jesus Christ, we should lead the way as peacemakers.”
Think about that: More than just filling us with rage, our online interactions can pose a threat to our spiritual well-being!
Luckily, President Nelson and other leaders have given us counsel about how we can avoid contention and share light with others in our daily interactions. Here are just three pieces of advice:
Don’t Follow Your Knee-Jerk Reaction
Technology allows us to connect with people from all over the world—including people who don’t share your views. Because of this, you may see negative online content about things you care about.
Even if the content isn’t intentionally offensive, it can cause us to feel icky, unsettled, or even angry! We might be tempted to fire back with defensive words.
However, as Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles has said, “As agents, … you and I have the power to act and to choose how we will respond to an offensive or hurtful situation.”
Before reacting, pause, take a deep breath, and give others the benefit of the doubt. Even if you don’t agree, you can react differently than your natural man or woman might want to.
Be Nicer Than You Think You Should Be
Sister Tamara W. Runia, First Counselor in the Young Women General Presidency, invited us to ask ourselves before interacting with others, “‘Is what I’m about to do or say helpful or hurtful?’”
If your answer is “hurtful,” it’s probably best to say something else.
Whether you want to defend your beliefs or to clarify truths, instead of throwing verbal stones, think about how the Savior would handle such a situation (see John 8:1–11).
Like Him, you can respond in calm, thoughtful, and charitable ways. As President Nelson added:
“As disciples of Jesus Christ, we are to be examples of how to interact with others—especially when we have differences of opinion. …
“If a friend on social media has strong political or social views that violate everything you believe in, an angry, cutting retort by you will not help.”
Yes, we can stand up for what we believe in, but we don’t have to fuel the flames of contention. Instead, we can cool those flames with kindness.
Be Willing to Walk Away
When the Savior faced hostile individuals, sometimes He simply removed Himself from those situations or didn’t respond (see Isaiah 53:7; Matthew 12:14–15).
No matter how good your intentions are, sometimes it’s best to simply let go and walk away.
Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said, “There are times when being a peacemaker means that we resist the impulse to respond and instead, with dignity, remain quiet.”
Withdrawing may not feel very powerful in the moment—it might feel like you’re giving up. But being a peacemaker is one of the most powerful ways to be a disciple of Jesus Christ. You never know who might be moved by your example.
Rather than adding to the angst on the internet, when you strive to be a peacemaker online, you can make it a place of connection, learning, and love.
And ultimately, you can make the internet a place to stand as a disciple of Christ.