In our age, there is a privilege given to us by communication technology: to build brotherhood with a seemingly intangible populace. In fact, it is up to us to take up the task of witnessing our values in the digital era.
The modern world has given rise to another revolution: “The Social Media Revolution.” Human beings have come to a point where one can literally share what is on their mind with the press of some buttons and the click of a mouse. Now, one can Google the answers to their questions, Facebook people they need to reconnect with, Skype with loved ones whenever possible, or Tweet whatever is happening in their own daily life, at every chance they get. But, certainly, one should assume that all this comes with great awareness and responsibility, that this is a privilege given to us in order to build brotherhood among each other, with this seemingly intangible populace: the online community, bound to each other by websites, emails, blogs and the like. Pope Benedict XVI stated it best, addressing the youth in preparation for World Youth Day, “As with every other fruit of human ingenuity, the new communications technologies must be placed at the service of the integral good of the individual and of the whole humanity.”
Definition of Social MediaThe modern world has given rise to another revolution: “The Social Media Revolution.” Human beings have come to a point where one can literally share what is on their mind with the press of some buttons and the click of a mouse. Now, one can Google the answers to their questions, Facebook people they need to reconnect with, Skype with loved ones whenever possible, or Tweet whatever is happening in their own daily life, at every chance they get. But, certainly, one should assume that all this comes with great awareness and responsibility, that this is a privilege given to us in order to build brotherhood among each other, with this seemingly intangible populace: the online community, bound to each other by websites, emails, blogs and the like. Pope Benedict XVI stated it best, addressing the youth in preparation for World Youth Day, “As with every other fruit of human ingenuity, the new communications technologies must be placed at the service of the integral good of the individual and of the whole humanity.”
But, first let’s define Social Media. According to Wikipedia, “These are media for social interaction, using highly accessible and scalable communication techniques wherein the term refers to the use of web-based and mobile technologies to turn communication into interactive dialogue.” Thus, it is the best channel to share with friends, to express ourselves, or to debate over or negotiate ideas.
The most popular examples of social media are communication and multimedia. Communication involves blogging, social networking (Facebook, Friendster, etc.), and microblogging. Multimedia, meanwhile, involves the sharing of all kinds of artistic expressions like drawings, photos, videos and music. The early forerunners to social media date back to the late 1970’s, such as Usernets, BBSs(Bulletin Board Systems), Online Services (ex. CompuServe and Prodigy), and IRC or Instant Messaging in 1988. Then came early social networks in the forms of dating sites, online forums, LiveJournal (which was the precursor to “live updates” and answers questions like, “What are you doing now?” or “What is on your mind?” which we usually see now in popular social networking websites), and Massively Multiplayer Online Role-playing Games(commonly known as MMORPGs; World of Warcraft is the most popular example, where people keep in touch with each other through the game world).
Then during, the early 2000s, major developments in communication and multimedia came in the form of Friendster, Hi5, MySpace, Multiply, Twitter, and of course, Facebook. Company-sponsored social networks exist as well, such as Photobucket, Flickr and YouTube. Later came “real time updates,” which have become a new form of social media, where Twitter, and Tumblr as very popular examples.
In a number of ways, social media is distinct from the more conventional types of media like newspapers, magazines, and television. They are inexpensive and undeniably accessible to everyone as it becomes easy to circulate and acquire information compared to the more traditional media.
Social media is really easy to use. One does not need specialized training or particular technical skills. One only needs to understand, or establish the idea he or she wants to share, choose a specific type of social medium of preference, and be free to do whatever he or she wants to do – whether to explain or express an idea through a blog, to connect or reconnect with other people from a certain source, or to simply “look around.”
One could also commend the instantaneous capability of social media to inform, interact and reach out. It is immediate, in the sense that whatever one desires to share, to express or to debate upon may be accessed by anyone at that very moment, while considering the channel [of social media] one desires to use. It took the radio 38 years, and 13 years for television to reach 50 million users, whereas it took only less than a year for Facebook to expand to 200 million users. In the process, these services break down barriers (of culture, language, religion, etc.) and bring people together by attracting them to a single point, allowing them to express themselves freely, and be virtually vocal about a certain idea or just observe.
The Person as a Social Being
Undoubtedly, people have taken seriously what Aristotle once asserted: “Man is a social being by nature.” Social media has become an integral part of human activity. But, as with everything useful and good in this world, it also has its own shortcomings and limitations.
For example, a study from the University of Maryland suggests that social media services “may be addictive.” It may be addictive, because one might develop the habit of spending too much valuable time on it, or the habit of logging in or exploring, because of a feeling that “there is nothing else better to do.” The average user spends approximately 55 minutes a day engaging in a social media service, which may make the user develop a “fear of missing out,” or withdrawal symptoms if such a user is deprived of it for a certain amount of time. A blog posted by Beirut of thoughtpick.com says, that “when social media is used excessively or in the wrong way, it could have serious detrimental outcomes on both the mental and even physical health of individuals.“
We have this duty to overcome the disadvantages of social media and maximize their usefulness, especially when we want to transmit the beauty and simplicity of the Gospel. We can make use of all these tools at our disposal, when taking up Pope Benedict’s challenge to the youth, “the task of witnessing to the Gospel in the digital era.”
Every person of different cultures, who embrace the love of God and neighbor, is considered a “seed” of the Word by the Second Vatican Council. So, it is important to cultivate these seeds so that they may develop as plants that one day blossom and bear into mature fruit, and eventually be expressed by each one in his own particular way even through social media. This could be a good form of witnessing and beneficial for the common good as the Gospel always serves the good of humanity.
Pastoral Care for the Facebook Republic and the Twitter Generation
Facebook alone boasts more than 500 million members (if it were a country, it would be the third most populated country). Imagine if we could contribute to igniting the hearts of just a portion of that population?
A broadcast from Romereports.com affirms that “the internet is used for pretty much everything nowadays. Now some nuns are getting ready to use the web for something they're not all accustomed to. For years now, Sister de Witt has used the internet to connect with a younger crowd. The idea came when she realized that less and less youths were going to Church. She decided to go online to chat with them, so they could re-connect with religion.” De Witt says, “It’s so easy to chat with a sister [like myself], in your own room, and ask questions.” Now, she is in Rome to teach other nuns, from different parts of Europe her ways of how to cybernetically contact the youths of today. Another example comes from the winner of the 2011 reader’s choice awards of About.com, Ask A Catholic Nun page, where people can ask questions concerning matters of faith, morality and religious learning. These nuns also express themselves through blogging and “tweeting.”
Jesus expressed the parables in the most simple, but alluring way. Our approach in sharing the Gospel values should be straightforward but profound, brief but concise, and varied but universally applicable. Blog an experience, share music or videos of genuine value, update your profile with a question “what’s in your heart?” instead of “what’s on your mind?” One can do so much, and more, considering the ease-of-use of social media… but of course, making use of everything in moderation. A Greek philosopher, Epictus, once said, “If one oversteps the bounds of moderation, the greatest pleasures cease to please.” We should partake, not impose.
In 1950, Focolare Founder Chiara Lubich explained that “… because you have received a grace that your colleague has not, you should be careful not to speak of holy things in an unsuitable environment. Otherwise, what the Gospel says will come true: these holy things will be despised and you will be laughed at. In this case, you must give witness to Jesus with your life.” Therefore, when using social media services, we should… not “shove” our thoughts and ideals down the throats of others, and then be ridiculed as “churchy people,” but simply show them, through our profiles, through the people we regularly interact with, through consistent Christian-value based activities, that we are authentically living the simplest form of the Gospel: love.
With one’s life, one can always discover new and unrestricted avenues which would lead to a union with God and with one’s neighbors. Chiara once wrote, “This is the great attraction of modern times – to penetrate to the highest contemplation (of God) while mingling with everyone, one person alongside others.” For those working for the pastoral care of our young people, to be updated with the new methods, means and tools of technology, especially social media services, may provide wonderful opportunities of sharing the Gospel values and drawing closer to one another, thus contributing to the integral good of the individual and of whole humanity.
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