“Every tool has its value, and that great communicator who was Paul of Tarsus would certainly have made use of email and social messaging.”
Message of Pope Francis for the 2021 World Communications Day.
Perhaps the biggest change to the media landscape in the past 20 years has been the rise of social media. In 2024, more than 20 million Australians were active users of social media, with most having multiple accounts on different platforms[1]. The proliferation of social media, its popularity, and the amount of time users spend using it means that it has become a major influence upon individuals’ views and beliefs. Pope Francis affirmed this when he said:
“The digital environment is characteristic of the contemporary world. Broad swathes of humanity are immersed in it in an ordinary and continuous manner. It is no longer merely about “using” instruments of communication, but living in a highly digitalised culture that has had a profound impact on ideas of time and space, on self-understanding, on understanding of others and of the world, on how to communicate, to learn, to inform oneself, to enter into relationship with others.”
Young People, the Faith and Vocational Discernment, 2018.
Social media can be a wonderful way to communicate and connect with others and to stay informed of news and events. Indeed, the internet, says Pope Francis, is “a source of knowledge and relationships that were once unthinkable,” (Message of Pope Francis for the 53rd World Communications Day). But the vast amounts of content published on social media also presents significant challenges for society and parents of children who are starting to engage with social media. Below are some resources and articles that can serve as a starting point in understanding social media, particularly from a parental perspective.
- ‘Redeeming the digital world through meaningful encounters’ (NCE, The Bridge, 2023)
- Plugging In: A Guide (Melbourne Catholic, Archdiocese of Melbourne, 2021)
- Social media for Catholics (Catholic Outlook, Diocese of Parramatta, 2018)
- eSafety Guide (Australian government website with resources on social media platforms such as TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Facebook and Tumblr)
- Towards Full Presence: A Pastoral Reflection on Engagement with Social Media (Dicastery for Communication, 2023)
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