“Death and Life are in the power of the tongue.”  This quote comes from the book of Proverbs. In today’s world, this quote may have been extended to include: “Death and Life are in the power of the text message, TikTok, X, or Snapchat.”

People have known for millennia that words are extraordinarily powerful and can permanently hurt another person, if not physically, then emotionally and spiritually. Physical wounds can heal – often emotional wounds remain. Words hold such power that Proverbs saw words as holding the very essence of life or death.

How much more so, in today’s world through the use of text messaging or posting on the Internet? While we may not be literally using our tongues, our mobile devices become surrogates for our tongues; and, given the infinite distances these words can travel, they possess equal, if not more power, over death and life.

Consider cyberbullying, a stark example of the harm that can happen through careless digital communication. Through the anonymity and detachment of screens, individuals can unleash cruelty upon their targets, inflicting deep emotional wounds that may never fully heal. Tragically, we have witnessed too many instances where the relentless onslaught of online abuse has driven vulnerable individuals to the brink of despair, their lives cut short by the weight of virtual torment.

"Cancel culture" exemplifies how a single misstep in the digital universe can lead to swift and merciless condemnation. A thoughtless comment or ill-advised post can snowball into a tidal wave of public outrage, resulting in severe repercussions for the individual in question. Careers are shattered, reputations ruined, and lives upended, all at the mercy of the unforgiving, abusive court of online opinion.

Meanwhile, the unchecked spread of misinformation and fake news on social media platforms threatens the very foundations of truth and trust in our society. From baseless conspiracy theories to politically motivated disinformation campaigns, the proliferation of falsehoods erodes the fabric of our discourse, deepening societal divisions and undermining the integrity of democratic institutions. We are witnessing this in our own country and tragically the onslaught of slander and misinformation against Israel.

In the shadows lurk newer and even darker forms of digital abuse, such as online harassment, doxxing, and revenge porn generated by AI, which inflict untold suffering upon their victims. The anonymity of the Internet emboldens perpetrators to commit heinous acts,  leaving little to no accountability and a trail of shattered lives and broken spirits in their wake.

In the face of these challenges, we must confront the reality that our words hold immense power – power to uplift and inspire, or to wound and destroy. We have a moral obligation to wield this power responsibly, to recognize the human faces behind the screens and to consider the consequences of our digital interactions.

As parents, educators, and members of the community, we must instill in future generations the values of empathy, respect, and accountability in their online conduct. We must teach them not only the importance of guarding their tongues but also of safeguarding their keystrokes, ensuring that their digital footprint reflects the goodness and decency that are within them. In doing so, we can work to create a digital landscape characterized not by division and despair, but by compassion and connection.

Ultimately, and without question, we have a responsibility to others and to ourselves to guard our tongues and our fingers from speaking or texting “evil.” We need to focus on and nurture life, not death.

Parents: to internalize the Proverbs message, talk about it with your children and extend it to texting and postings.  

After the conversation, I invite you to encourage your children, or do it together as a family, to write your own Proverb that expresses the same message.  Here’s an example:  “My tongue can be as gentle as a lamb or as ferocious as a lion.”

If you write your own Proverb, please feel free to share it in the comment section below.