The Lights and Shadows of Social Media

In recent decades, electronic communication has become widespread and nearly instantaneous. We have access to information and can communicate with others in ways that were unimaginable not so long ago. Email, text messaging, and now social media have made mass communication remarkably easy, for good and sometimes for ill.

Without question, these contemporary forms of communication can be used to great advantage and for great good. Millions of people have been exposed to the truths of our faith, the rich spirituality, and the life of the Church through social media. Just think of the huge number who grew in their knowledge of the Scriptures through Father Mike Schmitz’s Bible in a Year podcast series, or the vast number of people who have engaged the faith more deeply through the podcasts and videos of Bishop Robert Barron. The Church has always used various forms of communication to share her message, and with these recent developments in communication, you might say the sky is the limit. We can share the beauty of our faith and converse with people all over the globe. We can pass along information about the life of our parishes, our diocese, and the universal Church. At a moment’s notice, we can communicate important news items, prayer requests, and notifications about opportunities for spiritual growth, like retreats or liturgical events.

Social communication allows us to share the wealth of our faith with countless souls and answer questions that might otherwise never be asked. You may have read that growing numbers of people, especially young people, are inquiring about the Catholic faith and entering the Church in the last few years. When asked why and how this is happening, many have responded that they came to know more about the Catholic faith through online resources and social media. Thanks be to God!

But, for all of its advantages and opportunities, social media can also be perilous. In its less edifying forms, social media can be a platform for idle chatter about nothing. Endless hours spent on social media can never be retrieved, and a wise person should always ask what good will come from the time spent. The ease of communication also makes it possible to pass along false or misleading information very quickly, and to an unlimited number of people. This can happen through honest mistakes of fact, or it can happen through deliberate deception. Social media can also be a forum for gossip. In its most malicious forms, it can be used for detraction, calumny, and character assassination. These can be grave sins, and can cause great harm to others, especially when such communication potentially reaches an enormous number of people.

When we choose to participate in social media, we bear a grave responsibility. We are first called to abide in the truth and avoid any semblance of falsehood. To lie, mislead, or deceive others through social media can be a serious moral evil in itself, but it becomes even more grave by virtue of the number of people we reach and the harm that can result. A lie told to one person is sinful, but a lie told to multitudes through social media is magnified many times over. We also bear responsibility for incorrect information that we share, even if this is done unintentionally. As always, we should be very careful about what we say or write to others.
We are also called to charity and respect, and this is just as important in the sometimes-wild world of social media. I have been amazed on occasion at the uncharitable and simply ugly things that are said on social media, and the careless disregard for the reputations of others. It’s far too easy to say things at a safe distance on social media that we would never say to a person’s face. Charity and moderation are too often left behind in social media.

Freedom of speech and expression is enshrined in the civil culture of our country, and this is a right that deserves respect and protection. However, according to the teachings of the Gospel and our moral law, we do not have a right to communicate falsehood or attacks on the reputation and well-being of others. In its best versions, social media can be a means of sharing information, engaging in conversation and discussion, even hashing out competing viewpoints and opinions. In its less edifying versions, it can be a forum for ignorance and pettiness. In its most sinister form, social media is being used for blackmail, human trafficking, minor abuse, and other heinous crimes. We shouldn’t be naïve about the dangers of social media, especially to those who are young and vulnerable.

Nevertheless, the Church uses social media in various ways to communicate the truth, goodness, and beauty of our faith in Jesus Christ. The Pope uses social media to communicate his messages and teachings. Dioceses all over the world use social media to stay in touch with the faithful. In our own diocese, we use different forms of social media—podcasts, Flocknote messages and emails, among others—to communicate with all of you, and I use it myself too. Social media can be a powerful tool and can help us to accomplish wonderful things for God’s Kingdom. But power can be corrupted, and social media can be used in corrupt ways. So let me offer a few suggestions about the use of social media.

Always accompany the use of social media with prayer, and make sure our Lord is part of your communication. Do not turn to social media if you are angry or upset; it’s too easy to put something out in the heat of the moment that can never be taken back. Make sure you have your facts straight before you post a message or comment, and don’t believe everything you see or read. And most importantly, let us remember our Lord’s command: “Love one another as I have loved you.”