The digital challenge

Recently, a top Philippine National Police official noted that our country has become a haven for transnational organized crime syndicates involved in cyberpornography, cybersex dens, illegal gambling, credit card fraud and identity theft due to weak laws against cybercrimes and poor technical know-how of law enforcers.

The statement is alarming particularly for our children and youth who are the usual target and victims. Parents should be more cautious. In Laguna, for instance, ABS-CBN reported that last September a 15-year-old girl was raped by someone she met on the popular social networking site Facebook. When they agreed to meet, she was brought to a motel and raped. Social networking is now one of the most active web-based activities in the Philippines. In fact, we are tagged the “Social Networking Capital of the world” with 83 percent of the 29.7-million Internet users subscribing to a social network (Universal McCann Study). This just indicates that we have a new tool we need to harness: the social media.

The fast rise of digital technology has changed our world so much. Now we have new tools that are normal components of the digital culture. Facebook has become the icon of the social media. Since its inception in 2004, it has almost 800 million active users. They say that if Facebook were a country, it would be the world’s 3rd largest. The digital continent is gaining ground with millions of netizens occupying the virtual world. Yet like any other tool, it offers rewards and risks. An ax can either be a tool for work or an instrument for crime. It always depends on the intention of the user. There is a need, therefore, to understand these new mobile technologies that have revolutionized our lifestyle so that it can be used as a powerful tool for the integral good of society.

One who provided a strong digital spark that changed our digital landscape was Apple’s Steve Jobs who died last October. He is described as the modern-day Thomas Edison and is considered a legendary businessman in American history. He was an innovator, visionary and creative genius who transformed the way we communicate. He popularized the idea of constant communication and connectedness by envisioning a world in which people could just carry around almost everything in their pockets from music to e-mail to the Internet. Jobs’ legacy was to make computers user friendly becoming a tool for creativity and personal expression.

No doubt, these new trends have brought about positive effects. Today’s online generation are more creative and media literate in terms of technical literacy. It has given a voice to many young people just at the click of the mouse. The so-called Arab Spring was greatly facilitated by Twitter and YouTube providing advocacy groups to promote their cause. Easy access to information, research materials, news and updates has enhanced learning. The Internet has fostered a global culture like never before.

But great threats are also behind social networking. It has been observed that the social media increased the narcissistic tendencies of young people. It has contributed to the acquisition of bad study habits and interfered in their school work. Most importantly, it can expose them to online risks and could lead to Internet addiction. In the next few years, digital technology will even be more complex and sophisticated. And if Christ were born today, I’m sure He will have a Facebook account and will tweet His messages to give hope, show compassion and send love to those who have little of it. He will surely use these available means to “go to the world and make disciples of all nations.” (Matthew 28:19)

These new trends present new challenges to parents and educators to stay up-to-date to learn the new language of the net generation. One can only influence the world of the young from inside that world. The words of Pope Benedict XVI are worth reflecting on: “I would like then to invite Christians, confidently and with an informed and responsible creativity, to join the network of relationships which the digital era has made possible… In this field, too, we are called to proclaim our faith.”