Tagle calls for reflection, ‘digital detox’

While social media has great potential as an avenue for spreading the Gospel and for connecting people, the constant connection to the digital world has become a “threat” and source of noise.

Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle made this statement as he noted the need to return to reflection and prayer, and away from the “noise” that sometimes emanates from constant exposure to social media.

“Some people are proposing a digital detox. I don’t know how to do it. But they say we can do it through silence, a return to reflection and prayer life,” Tagle said in a speech at the “Catholic Media in Challenging Times” forum in Makati recently.

Priest’s revelation

Tagle cited a priest’s revelation that, contrary to his habit of immediately praying upon waking up in the morning, the priest now reaches for his phone first to check for new messages.

The prelate also cautioned that some people end up ignoring their family, friends and loved ones because of their fixation to the digital world.

“You spend three hours on games but don’t want to spend one minute on your family, your parents,” Tagle said.

His words of caution aside, Tagle said there were many opportunities for the Church in the ongoing digital revolution.

“We are invited to use social media not just as tools for evangelizing, but to evangelize the world of social communication and open it to the world of the Gospel,” he said.