It is easy to use words to build someone up, but it is even easier to use words to tear someone else down, particularly someone who is not present to offer a defence. Social media can be used to encourage others, but often the instant and seemingly private way of posting comments makes it very easy to launch a public attack on someone else. The third chapter of the letter of James describes the dangers of the tongue, which could equally apply to the keyboard:
The tongue is small, but makes great boasts. A little fire sets a large forest ablaze. The tongue is a fire, a world of evil amongst our other body parts, contaminating the whole body, and setting on fire the course of a person’s life with flames from hell. All types of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures can be tamed and have been tamed by humans, but no human is able to tame the tongue. It is an unpredictable evil, full of deadly poison. We use it to bless our God and Father, and we use it to curse people who have been made in the image of God. Out of the same mouth comes blessing and cursing. Friends, it should not be like this.
What is it that possesses us to make us say unkind thing to or about others? As James says later in the chapter, jealousy and selfishness are key parts of the problem. We seek to assert our own self-importance by tearing someone else down. The remedy is to seek wisdom from above, which is pure, conciliatory, kind, obedient, full of mercy, unprejudiced and genuine.