Going on a digital fast or reducing screen time during the season of Lent was actually recommended on various Catholic websites and publications this year. I am not one of those who spends much time watching videos on social media, but I do spend screen time reading, so this seemed like some penance that I could have undertaken for the season of Lent.
This thought would actually be reinforced by the fact, the “Decree on the Granting of Indulgence during the Ordinary Jubilee Year 2025 called by His Holiness Pope Francis,” even touches upon a plenary indulgence that can be obtained by “abstaining, in a spirit of penance, at least for one day of the week from futile distractions (real but also virtual distractions, for example, the use of the media and/or social networks)…”.
So, while it could be tempting to claim that I went on a digital fast this Lent, I must admit that I didn’t. I didn’t switch off social media, and in the course of the past weeks, something else arose that made me want to define screen time limitation.
Clearly, social media can be distracting, and at times futile, but if one chooses what one wants, based on one’s needs and desires, then the same social media can help focus more on prayer and reflection.
While it could be tempting to claim that I went on a digital fast this Lent, I must admit that I didn’t. I didn’t switch off social media, and in the course of the past weeks, something else arose that made me want to define screen time limitation.
Throughout the season of Lent, I received on Whatsapp or via Facebook, an unending stream of posts related to the season. These came from clergy members, from some other religious and even lay people. I have priest and nun friends who send me daily reflections on Whatsapp, every single day of the year.
Most of these posts were highly pertinent to the season of Lent and actually contributed to a better understanding of the season and led to a more meaningful observance of Lent.
Had I decided to rigorously fast from social media, I would surely have missed this very uplifting source of spiritual content.
Beyond spiritual posts, as an example of what popped up on social media, last week, I received a list of movies that Catholics can watch during Holy Week, with links to YouTube. Of course, I duly decided to forward that list to others who would be interested and was profusely thanked by at least one person for the list.
More interesting, after clicking some of these links, I am now receiving YouTube recommendations of more Catholic content, some of it excellent and just right for Holy Week and the Easter Triduum of Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday, that we enter into today.
There is anecdotal evidence of a particular increase in young men, who say their interest was sparked initially by Catholic apologists on social media and also by the traditional heritage of Catholicism.
As a kind of research before writing this piece, I went online — yes more screen time for me and maybe for you, reading this — on whether the number of people who are limiting their social media interactions are substantial, and it did seem that it was increasing, as most recommended turning off social media.
But then, I also came across this report and I quote from it: ‘This Easter Vigil, the Catholic Church in England is expecting a decade-high surge of new entrants to the faith. There is anecdotal evidence of a particular increase in young men, who say their interest was sparked initially by Catholic apologists on social media and also by the traditional heritage of Catholicism.’
Looks like social media is leading people to the Catholic Church at least in the UK; however, one would require more research and data to substantiate this fully, but there definitely appears to be a trend here.
As we come to the Easter Triduum, there will be many who will switch off their social media on Good Friday, it being a day of fast and abstinence in the Catholic Church.
As the decree quoted at the beginning says, we should abstain from ‘futile distractions’, and I see this as not a blanket ban on social media for the day.
No doubt a good idea, but it could also mean that you may miss some excellent content regarding Good Friday, content that could make you more aware of the significance of the day and prepare you better for the evening service in your parish church. That’s a risk you may be taking by switching off.
Of course, it is not being recommended here that one scroll through every post on social media through the day. As the decree quoted at the beginning says, we should abstain from ‘futile distractions’, and I see this as not a blanket ban on social media for the day.
We should have the ability to discern for ourselves and judge what is futile, and what can be uplifting, and read or watch accordingly. It may surely be better than the spiritual shortcut of just switching off.