In the Catholic Weekly, a pastor brings up the issue of addiction to social media especially the recent addition of short videos. This is an area we know very little about and the columnist in the Eyes of The Believer column gives the readers his understanding of the situation and concerns.
Recently, a new addiction has emerged as a social issue. They are short videos of 60 seconds or less. Short-form video platforms include YouTube's shorts, Instagram's Reels, and TikTok. The problem is that as these short-form videos become more popular, people's fatigue is increasing. All you have to do is click once and move your finger up, and other related videos will continue to appear according to the algorithm, making you addicted without even realizing it.
An increasing number of people are complaining that it has reached a point where it is interfering with their daily lives. Even though they are short videos with no need to watch, you end up watching a lot of them without even thinking. This form of addiction has the potential to lead to various problems such as decreased interest in other daily activities, lack of motivation, and depression. It also disrupts the quality of life and has a negative impact on interpersonal relationships and interpersonal communication.
The rapid increase in short-form content, which is compared to 'drugs' on social media, is declaring that the era of human loneliness is over. This is because you will never feel bored or lonely as long as you are with your smartphone. It is almost impossible to imagine the future of smartphone humanity, which does not know how to feel lonely.
The absence of solitude and silence is a sign that humans have given up on being human. This is because social media addiction which can lead to anxiety, fear, insomnia, and depression, causes harm not only to the human body and mind but also to mental and spiritual health. The way to regain and recover the lost solitude and silence is, paradoxically, to return to solitude and silence. Only that path can lead to a rich human and spiritual life
These days, 'digital detox' for curing digital addiction is emerging as a solution to social media addiction. People tend to look for isolated, quiet, and tranquil places and spaces such as 'temple stay', 'book reading', or 'searching for solitude'. The idea is to listen to yourself and discover the story within yourself. You need to take time to face yourself and regain your sense of self. That is why we need 'solitude' as voluntary isolation rather than passive 'isolation' — a time of silence to look inside oneself, reflect on relationships with others, and pursue unity with God, the absolute other.
Henry David Thoreau, the author of Walden, was a wise man who chose voluntary isolation at a young age by building a cabin by the lakeside and living there. People who choose solitude do not feel lonely. This is because solitude is not isolation in which relationships with the outside world are cut off. Only deep inner solitude can pursue inner richness through reflection and discovery. In particular, for believers who think they are addicted to social media or who want to prevent it, we suggest the following various 'experiences of solitude' for Catholics.
The first is the 'Subiaco Cave' where Saint Benedict, known as the father of the Western monastic order, was born again while living as a hermit. We need to form our hearts into a cave as a place of solitude and silence to meet ourselves and God and listen to his word. The second experience of solitude is 'Adoration of the Eucharist', a pious act of paying special respect in front of the tabernacles in our churches. The third method of experiencing solitude is 'retreat'. By following the words of Jesus, “Go to a solitary place by yourselves and get some rest” (Mark 6:31), you can truly rest in God, recover your energy for life, and be sent back to the world with a new body and mind. There are many other ways to experience voluntary solitude. In an age where solitude has been lost, the effort to restore solitude is an act of faith.
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