What is a “Like”? This is used in social media when you post something. If people like that post, they will click the “Like” button, meaning that they like your post. A few days ago I had lunch with a friend. At one point this person told me with firm indignation: “Too bad you can’t find a ‘Dislike’ button on Facebook.” Indeed this button doesn’t exist. You are only able to “unlike” the post if you decide you don’t like it anymore and you’re withdrawing the “Like” you had left there before. But you can’t “dislike” that post, so you just either like it or mind your own business (keep quiet). Many times—you don’t know from whom or from where—someone sends you a short message with something like: “May I please get a Like?” or there are other daring people that say: “If you really are my friend, prove it by liking my posts!”

But let’s be fair: To like something, first of all I need a desire to participate in it, I have to agree with it, and I have to genuinely like it. God knows whether or not we are being honest in these matters. The psalmist explains in his prayer: “O Lord, thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O Lord, thou knowest it altogether” (Psalm 139:1–4).

This new realm for humanity raises serious questions that, sadly, due to lack of time, are insufficiently examined in the actual world in which we live. The Internet is a great challenge; it is a very complex conglomerate and sometimes it seems as if crazy things happen there without having any law, without having logic. The Virtual World is cleverly planned by its designers working behind the scenes. This world is very well planned in such a way that when a person getting online finds enough that is sufficiently attractive to keep him or her there, the click button on that mouse seems to become unruly enough until the person is no longer able to think that much about “should I click on this or not?” This world is directed in such a manner that when you click something you also get chances to go to other links for other websites totally different than what you had originally sought. Woe to the one who goes online without having a specific goal in mind for it! There are plenty of websites to carry him or her practically anywhere they want. These other websites actually take advantage of the link system and they are making sure to lead you by the nose.

I am an Internet user. I like the Internet; there are wonderful things there. The possibilities to be found are almost unlimited—good information, creative things, edifying ideas, topics that can enrich you. But almost nothing comes without some danger, and the Internet does have its perils. The Virtual World is a trap for adults, but is especially dangerous for children. We must recognize that often even we, the adults, are caught in the tempting nets of the Internet. Really, how many of us have installed a filter on our Internet at home to keep our children and even ourselves far away from these traps? Even here there’s a problem. The filters spot and partially fix the oldest problems from the past but in this Virtual World, daily there are new challenges and we are in a race to see who is faster. Can I go safely or will they outsmart me? Therefore, the challenges are ever new, as new corruptions appear every day and we tend to lag behind.

In a few words I’d like to mention some of the ways that the Internet may be a danger for us. Here are some perils to which we are exposing ourselves as we surf the web:

By the term “identity,” we are referring to all data that identifies a person.

Our personal data is at risk because often when using certain websites, we sign up for various things—and, without our realizing it, our information is then taken without our consent by the so-called “identity thieves” who use it for fraudulent purposes to our detriment.

There is a common practice today for crooks to try to distort their identity for different purposes. They make false claims, something not in harmony with what the genuine Christian ought to do. To make false representations about one’s home address, birthdate, and/or profession, is just a form of deceit. Another way that deceit is practiced is by distorting portraits that are posted in contrast to the way the person really looks.

Maybe we think these are just minor issues, but such practices are leading us step by step into forming an insincere character, accustomed to being false. If we would stop just for a moment to consider what God thinks about all our distorted posts, maybe we’d decide to change our attitude and try to be more sincere with ourselves and with others.

Privacy, the various aspects about a person’s life, is often affected online. Many times this is simply due to a desire to escape the doldrums of anonymity by trying to stand out to be noticed. Because The Virtual World is suggesting to us different feelings that may characterize us, many choose to go ahead and make these feelings public, announcing that they are in a relationship and then that they are not anymore, that they got confused, that they are happy, or any other statement about their emotions—and often I don’t even understand what they are trying to say. Is it really appropriate for everybody to know about these things? It’s about privacy. When you post private things about yourself, you become vulnerable and are in danger of being attacked by those who know very well how to fix their target on you. By the details that you’re providing, you may be giving to others enough resources to make themselves clothes, clothes that they will wear—and in your name they (using your identity), they can commit all kind of weird and dirty things in The Virtual World. Beware!