British-born pop star Ray says she uses the Bible, not Instagram, to guide her life.
“Instead of cruising Instagram, I’m looking for answers on Bible apps,” she said in a recent interview with British newspaper The Times.
The “Where’s My Husband?” singer-songwriter told the media that she remains “offline as much as possible,” adding that staying away from social media has significantly improved her mental health. This is not surprising given the data showing that chronic Instagram use is inherently linked to higher levels of depression, anxiety, and stress.
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A 2024 Pew Research Center survey found that nearly half of teens (48%) believe social media sites have a mostly negative impact on their peers, a significant increase from the same response of 32% in 2022.
The temptation to compare one’s life to others online is a huge factor in causing anxiety when it comes to social media use, and the Bible gives countless warnings against comparison.
For example, in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8, the apostle Paul wrote:
Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous, boastful, proud, or rude. We don’t demand a unique way of doing things. They never get irritated and there is no record of being treated unfairly. Instead of rejoicing at injustice, we rejoice whenever truth wins. Love never gives up, never loses faith, always has hope, and endures no matter the situation. Prophecies, speaking in unknown languages, and having special knowledge will no longer be useful. But love lasts forever (NLT)!
And in Philippians 2:2-4, he wrote, “Then make me truly happy by sincerely agreeing with one another, loving one another, and working together with one heart and purpose. Be not selfish. Do not try to impress others. Be humble and consider others better than yourself. Be concerned not only about your own interests, but also about others” (NLT).
Ray said staying away from social media and the constant comments directed at her has helped her thought life.
“I think it’s gotten a lot better since going offline. Ignorance is bliss,” she said. “If someone told me I looked terrible in a dress, I’d be sad. If someone didn’t say I looked terrible in a dress… that’s why I really value being offline.”
The pop singer, who was raised in a Christian home, credits her faith for keeping her alive.
She told the BBC: “There’s a world out there where I might not be here if I didn’t find my faith again. There’s a lot of demons out there trying to claw at you and drag you into places where you don’t belong. So I’m really grateful to have this faith. Honestly, it’s lifted me out of a really dark place.”
Ray has a tattoo of a reference to Psalm 91 on his arm.
She described the Old Testament passage as a “prayer of protection” and told Louis Theroux, “When I feel scared, when I feel in danger, when negative energies come upon me, I pray this prayer. This is important to me.”
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