A year after issuing a pastoral letter on the use of social media, the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops has launched a new video series to help Catholics navigate social media with faith and integrity.
The series, part of a new webpage for the CCCB’s Pastoral Letter on the Use of Social Media, contains new resources and materials inspired by the letter to help Catholics “unpack the observations” and apply guidance from the bishops on using social media from a Catholic social and moral perspective.
The main element of the resources is a five-part video series on YouTube that brings the letter’s key messages to life. Bishop Scott McCaig, CC, bishop of the Military Ordinariate of Canada, hosts the English version, while Bishop Pierre-Olivier Tremblay, OMI, of Hearst-Moosonee, Ont., presents the French videos.
The pastoral letter was published in January 2024 by the CCCB’s Episcopal Commission for Justice and Peace. Entitled Let Your Speech Always Be Gracious, the letter explains the ethical and moral dimensions of digital communication.
The CCCB resources include the video series, a social media toolkit, and a downloadable version of the letter to encourage Catholics to reflect on their social media use in a way that is consistent with Catholic values.
The video series highlights seven key themes from the pastoral letter:
• Check for accuracy before sharing information.
• Seek greater perspective to avoid echo chambers.
• Value human dignity by treating others with respect online.
• Bring curiosity into conversation and engage with openness.
• Distinguish between intention and impact in communication.
• Tend to time spent online and balance social media with real-life relationships.
Bishop McCaig emphasizes the importance of verifying information before sharing it. In an era when misinformation spreads rapidly, “It’s crucial to ensure that what we share online is accurate and trustworthy.”
He also addresses the need to seek perspective, warning against the dangers of being limited to one-sided or biased perspectives. “We are encouraged to look beyond our own viewpoints and understand the broader context of an issue,” he says.
“By doing so, we foster empathy and avoid echo chambers – spaces where people only encounter viewpoints similar to their own.”
The letter also presents a call to value human dignity in all online interactions. Bishop McCaig stresses the need for Catholics to treat everyone with respect, whether in person or online. “Our interactions should reflect our commitment to upholding human dignity at all times,” he says.
While social media plays a role in modern communication, Bishop McCaig encourages Catholics to prioritize real-life relationships over digital engagement. “While social media is a valuable tool, real-life interactions are irreplaceable,” he says, adding that balancing online and offline connections enriches personal relationships and overall well-being.
In addition to the videos, the CCCB has released a social media toolkit with graphics, sample posts, and key messages to help parishes, dioceses, and individuals promote faith-based digital engagement.
The bishops encourage Catholics to explore the new resources, view the videos, and use the toolkit to foster healthier and more charitable conversations online. “By reflecting on the Pastoral Letter’s messages, we can help transform digital spaces into places for connection characterized by healthy conversations, charitable interactions, and faith-filled witness,” the CCCB said.
The pastoral letter, video series, and additional resources are available at: cccb.ca/justice-and-peace/pastoral-letter-on-the-use-of-social-media. The video series is at youtube.com/@CCCBCECC/playlists.
Mother’s concern over kids and tech leads to launch of Unplugged Canada
By Nicholas Elbers
After one too many meetings with school staff about getting her daughter books instead of iPads, mother and activist Jenny Perez felt alone in her concern about technologies’ effect on children.
Today, she runs Unplugged Canada, which is dedicated to informing parents about the dangers of early over-access to technology like smartphones.
Perez recently met with Sister John Mary Sullivan, FSE, associate director of the Ministries and Outreach Office, to discuss the organization. Unplugged events have been promoted through the Behold Event page.
Unplugged revolves around a pledge which parents of children under 14 can sign, promising to “delay smartphone access for your child until they are at least 14 years old.”
The website tracks the schools that pledge families belong to, and an automatic email service connects parents who have signed the pledge to other signees within their school community.
Perez said she began the work after feeling isolated and alone in her concerns about technology use in the classroom when her daughter started school some years ago.
“I couldn’t understand the need for a school to give an iPad to a five-year-old,” she told The B.C. Catholic. “When I questioned the system, I found out I was the only one speaking up – that was eye opening.”
Perez initially became involved with an American organization called Wait Until 8th, which encourages parents to wait to give their children access to certain kinds of technology.
When she was unable to bring the organization to Canada, she had help from its founder, Brooke Shannon, to create Unplugged Canada.
“We are not against technology,” she said. “We just want to introduce technology at the right time.”
Adults, let alone children, have a hard enough time with screen addiction, and the Unplugged website has many resources outlining the potential problems associated with early access to smartphones and other problematic technology.
They include everything from early exposure to pornography to loss of attention and executive control.
The organization was launched last September with a speaker session that included Wait Until 8th founder Brooke Shannon, registered clinical counsellor Sharon Selby, and Margot Denomme, a former Crown Attorney and founder of “aising Awareness About Digital Dangers (RAADD), a Canadian initiative focused on mitigating the negative impacts of technology on children.
Unplugged hosted a webinar on Jan. 30 entitled “The Ugly Truth of Smartphones.”
