Towards Full Presence Name: Regan Osika.

A Pastoral Reflection on Engagement with Social Media

1) It discusses the need for individuals and communities to navigate the digital world with care,
emphasizing the importance of genuine presence and attentiveness despite the influence of
technology. It acknowledges the transformative impact of technology on human interaction,
especially on social media, while highlighting the necessity of rediscovering authentic human
encounters. Young people seek acknowledgment in these digital spaces, considering them a
significant part of their identity.

2)It addresses how social media and digital culture have significantly impacted Christian faith
communities and individual spiritual journeys. It mentions various examples of faithful
engagement and witness on social media platforms by individuals and local communities, often
surpassing the institutional Church’s reach. Additionally, it highlights the numerous initiatives
developed by different entities within the Church to cater to pastoral and educational needs in the
digital realm.

3)It goes into the Church’s historical engagement with the digital realm, citing instances such as
the World Communications Day messages since 1967. It highlights Pope Benedict XVI’s
emphasis on media fostering respectful relationships and Pope Francis’ recognition of the digital
world’s integration into everyday life, influencing knowledge accumulation, information
dissemination, and relationships. The Church has consolidated the view of social media as spaces
for communication and evangelization, not just tools.

4)It focuses on the Church’s effective use of digital media, particularly during the COVID-19
pandemic. It highlights the impactful moment when Pope Francis led a global prayer in an empty
Saint Peter’s Square, reaching millions through televised and live-streamed transmissions.
Despite physical distance, it brought unity and communion, showcasing the power of traditional
and digital media to connect people worldwide.

5)It presents reflections from various experts, professionals, clergy, and religious individuals,
aiming to address how Christians should engage with social media. It encourages a creative and
constructive approach to foster a culture of neighborliness, posing questions about the nature of
digital relationships, the expression of faith online, and the concept of the “neighbor” in social
media spaces.

6) It draws a parallel between the Parable of the Good Samaritan and the digital world,
prompting a reevaluation of our role in the digital realm. It encourages rediscovering a profound
and lasting heritage within the digital landscape, analogous to the inheritance of the promised
land in biblical terms.

7) This article talks about how digitization, moving tasks and life to digital platforms, has made
life easier. It explains how digital technologies help us do things faster and connect beyond
physical limits. The pandemic made us do many things, like education and work, from a
distance. It also changed how countries make laws. Information now spreads quickly, changing
how politics work.

8) This article discusses how artificial intelligence (AI) is getting more important. It explains
how machines are learning from us and even understanding our feelings. It talks about Web 5.0
and other advances changing how we experience reality. There are still many questions about this
new evolving reality.

9) The article talks about how the Internet changed our world and created some problems. Some
people grew up with it (digital natives), while others are still learning to use it (digital
immigrants). Our culture is now mostly digital. Instead of saying “online” or “offline,” people
talk about “onlife,” including both digital and physical life.

10) This article explains how social media shapes what we believe and how we talk. Many
people, especially in developing countries, only use social media for digital communication.
Social media is not just a tool; it’s a space where our core beliefs are communicated. Although
social media companies promise a lot, like bringing people together, they often care more about
profits than keeping these promises.

11) Some people hoped that the Internet would be a place where everyone could share and learn
from each other, without any problems or barriers. They thought the Internet would be a good
and trustworthy source of information.
12) However, this did not happen. Many people still do not have access to the Internet or the
things they need to live well. Also, social media platforms that were supposed to connect people
and make them closer have instead created more divisions and conflicts.

13) There are some dangers on the Internet that we need to be careful of. One of them is that
social media is not just a way of communicating, but also a way of making money. Companies
use social media to sell us things and to collect our data. They also make us agree to their rules,
which we often do not read or understand. They say that social media is free, but we are actually
paying with our time and information.

14) Another danger is that it is hard to find reliable and accurate information on the Internet.
There is too much information, and some of it is false or misleading. The algorithms that decide
what to show us on the Internet are not neutral or transparent. They are based on many factors
that we do not know or control. They show us what we want to see, not what we need to see.
This makes us more isolated and less open to different perspectives.

15) A third danger is that social media can prevent us from meeting and learning from people
who are different from us. Social media platforms tend to group us with people who are similar
to us, based on our characteristics, preferences, and interests. This can make us feel more
comfortable, but also more narrow-minded. We may miss the opportunity to encounter and
understand the diversity of the world.

16) Some automated systems on the Internet can create spaces where people act in bad ways.
They can spread hate, violence, and lies. They can also hide their identity and react to others
without caring about their feelings. This is different from how people behave in real life, where
they can see and hear each other.

17) We need to be aware of these dangers and try to find a way to make the Internet better. We
should not hate the digital world, but see it as part of our life. We should also balance our digital
and physical experiences, because they both shape our life and journey.

18) Many people are hurt by the division and hatred on the Internet. We should not ignore them
or be silent. We should try to make the Internet more human and caring. We should remember
those who are left out or wounded by the digital world. We should look at the world from their
point of view, like the Good Samaritan did. This will help us to understand the world better.
19) We are becoming more divided and isolated on social media. We only see what we want to
see, and we do not respect or care about others who are different from us. This is a sign of a
culture that throws away people and things that are not useful. This is not a good way to live. We
should instead create a culture of encounter, where we make friends and peace with different
people.

20) We need to use social media in a way that connects us with others, not separates us. We
should welcome and listen to those who have different opinions or backgrounds from us. This is
not easy, because we may ask, “Why should I care?” We may find excuses to ignore or reject
others. We may draw lines between “us" and "them". This makes us less compassionate and
more indifferent. We should not act as if others' problems are not our problems.

21) We should help others who are in need, like the Good Samaritan did, and not be selfish or
indifferent.

22) We should be the first to care for others, because we believe in a compassionate God. We
should act as neighbours and build community with others online, not just ourselves.

23) We should ask ourselves how we can make the online world better for everyone, where we
can have respectful conversations and overcome disagreements.

24) We should engage with others and seek meaningful encounters online, which also help us
grow closer to God. We should also pray and participate in the Church, which are not just digital,
but real.

25) We should be aware of how social media works and what challenges it poses. We should
learn from Christ, who showed us mercy and love. We should communicate well by listening and
being aware of the other person.

26) We should help someone who is hurt and alone, even if they are different from us, like the
Samaritan did. We should feel compassion and give our time and resources to listen and
accompany the hurt person.

27) The story of the Good Samaritan shows us how to have a meaningful encounter with a
stranger online, by being compassionate and listening to their story.
28) The Samaritan did not need words to start an encounter with the wounded man, he just
showed care and openness, and did not judge him by his culture.

29) The story of the Samaritan encourages us to make the first move online, to see the value and
dignity of those who are different from us, and to listen well to their reality.

30) Listening is a skill that helps us to have relationships with others, not just information. Our
devices have a lot of information, but our interactions online are still limited. We often react to
information without knowing the full story.

31) Having a lot of information online has many benefits: we can learn, connect, explore, and
give voice to those who are left out.

32) Having a lot of information online also has some challenges: we feel overwhelmed,
distracted, and pressured by different websites, applications, and platforms that want our
attention. Attention is very valuable and scarce.

33) The online world has too much information and social interaction that distract us from
focusing on one thing. We are tempted to post quickly and get more content, but we lose the
ability to think deeply and carefully. We only look at the surface, not the depth of reality.

34) We need to be more mindful and find silence and space to think slowly, deeply, and
purposefully. We risk losing the quality of our interactions with God and others. We need to
listen carefully and discern the truth. We need to avoid the temptation of the old serpent who
shows us things that look good but are not good for us. We need to keep the word of God in our
hearts.

35) Silence is valuable because it helps us to focus and discern. We need to seek silence in the
digital world and focus and listen better. We need to detach ourselves from digital devices
sometimes. Silence is not just a withdrawal, but a way to connect more deeply with God and
others.

36) Listening comes from silence and is important for caring for others. By listening we
welcome, respect, and humble ourselves to others. We recognize the truth, wisdom, and value of
others. We cannot receive the gift of others if we do not listen.
37) Listening is also important for our spiritual lives. A contemplative approach is different from
the digital culture, but it can shape us and the culture for the better. Listening on social media is a
key step to make the network more human and less technical. We can move from quick and
wrong reactions to creating dialogue, learning, caring, and respecting others.

38) Listening on social media is not just about data and statistics, but about being open and
attentive to the other person with our heart. This helps us to communicate and build relationships
with others and with God.

39) Listening well also depends on our dialogue and relationship with God, which is nourished
by the Word of God. Reading the Scripture with prayer and contemplation can help us grow
spiritually and listen better.

40) The Word of God is also available online, and it can help us to see the other person as a
storyteller, not just information. Listening to the stories of others online can help us to welcome
and connect with them.

41) Communicating on social media is not just a practical question, but also a spiritual one. We
need to discern what and how to communicate, and how to relate with others online. We need to
ask who is our neighbour on social media, and how to show God’s presence through our
communication.

42) Neighbourliness on social media is complicated, because we may not see or know all the
people and factors that are involved. There are also bots, deep fakes, and platforms that can
influence or manipulate our online interactions. We need to be aware of these challenges and
complexities.

43) We should care for every person’s life online, even if we don’t see them. Social media can
help us to communicate and share, but it can also hide the pain and joy of others. We should use
social media in a way that respects human dignity and promotes the common good.

44) We should think about our three important relationships on social media: with God, our
neighbour, and our environment. We should make sure that these relationships are healthy and
balanced, and that they reflect our faith and values.
45) We should communicate and build relationships with others, based on truth and encounter.
We should share and belong with others, based on reciprocity and solidarity. We should
remember that truth is more important than any other factor in creating community.

46) We should build community online, even with those who are far away. We should learn from
the Apostles, who used their letters to connect and support the different communities, but they
also wanted to meet them in person. We should value both physical presence and written
presence as ways of communicating.

72) People look for someone who can give them hope and guidance, but they often follow
influencers on social media who have many followers and can inspire others with their ideas or
experiences.

73) Being viral on social media can be good or bad for others. Social media can help us to
connect and improve society, but it can also cause more division and conflict. The digital world
is a place where we can either support or hurt each other, have meaningful conversations or
unfair attacks.

74) We should be aware of our influence on social media, whether we have many or few
followers. Every Christian is an influencer who can link others to the Kingdom of God. We
should not use our influence to promote our own opinions, but to serve our community. We
should be more responsible as our number of followers increases.

75) Be reflective, not reactive: This article urges Christians to be reflective and not reactive on
social media, avoiding content that is designed to cause conflict, division, and prejudice. It also
warns against the problem of polemical and superficial communication, especially from Church
leaders, and calls Christians to show another way of dialogue and communion.

76) Be active, be synodal: This article encourages Christians to be active and synodal on social
media, sharing stories and experiences of beauty and suffering, and engaging in projects that
promote human dignity and development. It also stresses the need for a global collaborative
effort and a synodal face of the Church, as Jesus sent out the disciples in pairs. It affirms that
communion is part of the Christian DNA and invites Christians to open their hearts to others.
77) This article reminds Christians that their social media presence should not only focus on
spreading information, but also on bearing the mark of witness. It suggests that Christians should
be known for their availability to listen, discern, respect, respond, and remain silent, following
the advice of James 1:19. It also clarifies that Christians are not on social media to sell a product
or proselytize, but to communicate life in Christ.

78) What does it mean to be a witness?: This article explains that being a witness means giving
up your life for God and following the example of people who died for their faith and John the
Baptist. It also says that Christians are not looking for fans for themselves, but for Jesus, and that
they can share the good news only by being friends with others.

79) The attractiveness of faith: This article tells how Jesus drew people by his kindness, healing,
and teaching, but also by his quiet time, prayer, and pain. It also asks Christians to follow Jesus’
example by making room for personal talk with God and the Holy Spirit, and by not caring about
human ways of measuring success by the good news.

81) This article talks about how we can meet and help people who are hurt or suffering online.
Sometimes we are the ones who need help. The article says that we can see God in these people
and show them mercy and love. This way, we can experience God’s kingdom and his love for us.

82) This article talks about how we can use our online presence to lead people to the Church,
where they can meet God face-to-face and be healed. The article says that we should follow the
example of the Good Samaritan, who helped a wounded man with oil and wine. The article says
that we should communicate with kindness and joy, and not with fake or harmful words.