The Meta Fact-Checking Removal isn't a surprise

And it's a sign of this Digital Ministry Best Practice

Mark Zuckerberg has done it again—shaken the digital landscape with yet another “innovation” that feels more like a strategic retreat. By scrapping Meta’s fact-checking infrastructure and replacing it with user-driven “community notes,” Zuckerberg has decided to let the inmates run the asylum. It’s a move that, if we’re honest, reeks less of ideological conviction and more of capitulation to political gesturing.

For digital ministries relying on platforms like Facebook and Instagram to reach their communities, this seems like bad news. But really, it’s a wake-up call. The message from Meta is loud and clear: These platforms were never built with us in mind.

Or, at least, not our well-being in mind.

It’s time we stopped treating borrowed spaces like permanent homes.

Instead, let’s channel this frustration into creating something better—a digital “third space” we can actually control.

Why I Write for Digital Natives

A recent exchange on Threads reminded me why I focus so heavily on the potential of digital ministry. It started with a post of mine where I said,

"I'm more myself online than offline. That's not a flaw—it's a feature of digital ministry."

A reader, someone thoughtful and genuinely curious, responded with a question that caught me off guard:

“Do you see the technological aspect of your ministry as a positive in every regard? It seems like you write a lot about the benefits of technology, but what about the drawbacks?”

It was a fair question, and I appreciated the tone—it wasn’t accusatory, just honest curiosity. I explained that while I personally enjoy technology and often focus on its potential, my ministry is aimed at the digital natives. These are the people for whom tech isn’t just a tool but a native language, the way they connect, express, and navigate the world.

That doesn’t mean I think technology is without flaws. I told him,

“No such thing as a perfect platform. It’s echoes of the same historic issues that have plagued the church: Modern worship or hymns? Megachurch or rural church?”

The truth is, I choose to emphasize the potential of technology because I know what it feels like to have someone criticize the very thing that allows you to thrive. There’s no shortage of voices lamenting the dangers of tech. My focus is on building spaces where digital natives can connect and flourish despite the flaws of the platforms we use.

The Folly of Borrowed Spaces

Here’s the problem with social media: it’s a carnival. Flashy, noisy, and utterly transient. You may think you’ve built something substantial, but then the ringmaster—be it Zuckerberg or Musk—changes the rules, and you’re back to square one.

Zuckerberg’s latest pivot is a masterclass in shortsightedness. By dismantling fact-checking and outsourcing moderation to the crowd, he’s not “empowering free expression”; he’s offloading responsibility.

The result will be a platform even more chaotic and meaningless, where misinformation spreads unchecked, and the loudest voices drown out the meaningful ones.

For ministries, this is more than an inconvenience—it’s a direct threat. These platforms never promised us permanence, but they’ve stopped pretending to care about fostering healthy communities.

A Third Space: The Digital Church’s New Frontier

We need to stop treating every social media platform as our sanctuary.

I can imagine this is surprising coming from me, but I don’t advocate for using digital tools unwisely. We must have an intention behind the tools we use, and not every platform can serve as a sanctuary.

There is a difference between offering worship in a skate park versus offering worship at the bottom of an active skate ramp. Even when doing ministry in uncommon spaces, we still have to use common sense to identify the proper ‘third space.’

Discord, for example, has become a cornerstone for innovative digital ministries like Checkpoint Church. It’s not just a VoIP tool; it’s a church building. A sanctuary where the community sets the tone, where relationships grow deeper, and where your voice isn’t just another echo in an algorithm-driven void.

Why? What’s so different about it?

Discord allows for hosting servers with unique layouts and customization. It allows for internal moderation and true personalization.

There is no algorithm baked into the system, so everything has to be UGC (user-generated content) and garner its own attention.

And then there is no assumed audience in a Discord server. While there is some discoverability of a server, that’s really only for giant servers, and certainly not for ones with ‘Church’ in the title.

Even still, Discord has shortcomings. An even more ideal third space would allow for email collection, so that there is an outsourced form of connection with individuals (this is my favorite part of platforms like Substack, for instance).

Why Zuckerberg’s Move is a Gift (If We Let It Be)

Meta’s shift might be infuriating, but it’s also clarifying. For too long, we’ve treated social media like sacred ground. This change forces us to reckon with a harsh truth: if we want lasting impact, we need to build our own spaces.

How to Build Your Third Space

1. Pick Your Platform: Look for tools like Discord that prioritize customization.

2. Own Your Communication: Build an email list as your safety net.

3. Design for Engagement: Host live chats, Q&A sessions, and collaborative Bible studies. Frankly, just design at all. It’s amazing the communities that lean on the laurels of social media without thoughtful application of the tools.

4. Set Clear Boundaries: Create and enforce community guidelines that reflect your mission.

World 3-3 Complete

This isn’t about saving social media or decrying technology. It’s about empowering people—especially digital natives—with spaces that reflect their values and meet their needs. Zuckerberg’s latest gambit is our opportunity to do better. Personally—I’d love to have less of my friends and family on Facebook so I can finally delete my account.

Let’s stop clinging to platforms that don’t support us. Let’s build sanctuaries that will.

Q: What did the extrovert say about the third space?
A: “It’s great, but where’s the fourth one?”