32 unread messages.
Pomodya put down the phone and looked at the screen for a few seconds. The number of unread messages made everything feel even more stressful. Pomodya was frustrated, tired, and did not know what to do next. How would Pomodya get through the next few days? There were so many thoughts going through Pomodya’s mind that it was difficult to concentrate.
Looking for answers, or maybe just a distraction, Pomodya picked up the phone again and started watching random videos. At first, Pomodya was not interested in what appeared on the screen. There were funny videos, dancing videos, motivational clips, advertisements, and many other types of content. Pomodya kept scrolling without really paying attention.
Then one video caught Pomodya’s eye.
The person in the video was speaking calmly about religion and spirituality. Pomodya could not understand everything at first, but something about the person’s voice and the way they explained things made Pomodya stop scrolling.
The influencer was talking about how people sometimes lose hope when they face difficult situations. They explained that faith does not mean a person will never experience problems. Instead, faith can give someone the strength to continue when life becomes difficult. Pomodya listened carefully.
For some reason, those words felt personal.
The influencer spoke about kindness, forgiveness, patience, and trusting God during difficult times. They explained that religion should not only be about attending religious services or saying prayers. It should also be shown through the way people treat others. Helping someone who is struggling, forgiving people who make mistakes, and showing kindness to others were all important parts of living a spiritual life.
Pomodya was impressed.
The video did not solve all of Pomodya’s problems, but it made Pomodya feel calmer. After the video ended, another video from the same influencer appeared. Pomodya watched that one too, and then another. Soon, almost an hour had passed.
Pomodya began to understand why religious and spiritual influencers can have a positive impact, especially on young people. Since young people spend a lot of time online, they can easily come across messages about faith, hope, kindness, and forgiveness. Someone who is having a difficult day might find comfort in a short video at exactly the right moment.
However, Pomodya also realised that there could be disadvantages. Not every person who speaks about religion online is an expert. Some influencers may share their personal opinions as religious facts or spread incorrect information. Religious teachings can also be oversimplified because social media videos are often made to attract attention. Some people may even use religion mainly to gain followers, views, or money.
Religious discussions online can also create arguments when people disrespect other beliefs. Pomodya believed that religion should bring people closer through love, kindness, respect, and understanding rather than create division.
The influencer was one of the people Pomodya admired because they did not force anyone to believe what they said. Instead, they encouraged people to think, learn, pray, and make their own decisions. Pomodya especially admired their message about forgiveness. The influencer explained that forgiveness does not mean forgetting everything that happened. It can mean choosing not to let anger and hatred control your life.
Pomodya realised that this was the most meaningful part of spirituality. It was not only about words but also about actions.
After watching several videos, Pomodya finally put the phone down. The unread messages were still there, and the problems had not disappeared. However, Pomodya felt more peaceful and hopeful.
Pomodya saved the video, feeling hopeful and stronger. The problems remained, and 32 messages were still unread, but Pomodya finally felt ready to face everything.
This story was submitted as part of the King’s Study Phase of the Gen Z Role Models Project. Added October 2026.
“Pomodya kept scrolling without really paying attention” (S228) © 2026 by The Gen Z Role Models Project is licensed under CC BY 4.0
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