Myk Habets is Senior Lecturer in Theology and Head of the School of Theology at Laidlaw College, as well as an Associate Pastor at Albany Baptist Church in Auckland.
In this monthly column Myk looks at topics at the forefront of New Zealander’s minds, by examining the top internet searches and news results in New Zealand, helping us address these contemporary social, economic, and political issues through a theological lens for the common good - this is Public Theology.
YouTube: A Slow Death by Algorithm
YouTube was the most searched term on Google this month. That probably comes as no surprise. Who doesn’t use YouTube these days? Whether it is for entertainment (and yes, many of us still enjoy watching pandas falling out of trees!), for work, for learning new skills, or for keeping up with current events, YouTube has become an integral part of modern life.
What concerns me, however, is not YouTube itself, but the way many people increasingly use it to form their opinions and understand the world.
We live in the age of algorithms. What we watch, how long we watch it, what we search for, what we like, and what we share all feed into systems that learn our preferences and then give us more of the same. The result is often a limited, slanted, and highly curated view of reality that continually reinforces what we already think.
That is not genuine research. It is not informed decision-making. And it is certainly not the kind of intellectual discipline required for responsible Christianity or thoughtful public theology. I am especially conscious of this with a national election looming.
One of the great privileges of my work is engaging with students who are eager to deepen their faith and understanding. To their credit, many are actively seeking answers and resources. Yet I have also noticed that a majority of young adults rely almost entirely on YouTube-style learning and online influencers for their theological formation.
While there is much valuable material available online, we should be cautious about confusing content consumption with education.
There is simply no substitute for formal learning under the guidance of qualified teachers. Here in New Zealand, we are spoilt for choice, with institutions such as Carey Baptist College and Laidlaw College, each offering opportunities for rigorous theological study. Learning from experienced lecturers, engaging with diverse perspectives, reading widely, and being challenged in our assumptions shape us in ways no algorithm ever can.
My concern is that we are developing a generation of Christians who do not fully recognise how shaped they are by the biases of their online environments. Many sincerely believe they have conducted thorough research when, in reality, they have travelled deeper and deeper into an algorithmically curated rabbit hole that largely reflects their pre-existing views.
Christian discipleship calls us to something better. We need to be better.
Whether it's theology, politics, economics, biology, history, or any other field, excellence requires disciplined study, critical thinking, and engagement with a range of viewpoints. Serious learning takes time, humility, and effort. We need to do better.
So, this is a plea to my brothers and sisters: by all means use YouTube, social media, podcasts, and online resources. They can be enormously helpful. But do not let them become your only teachers. Resist the temptation of cul-de-sac thinking, partisan loyalties, and one-eyed vision.
Seek wisdom. Read broadly. Learn deeply. Engage thoughtfully. Remember the Wesleyan Quadrilateral (or better still, the Evangelical Quintilateral)?!
And whenever possible, invest in the kind of structured learning that challenges, stretches, and equips you to live out your faith responsibly and confidently in the public square. Christ expects more of us; will we rise to the challenge?
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