This would perhaps seem more typical of a bishop of the catholic church that he would limit himself to asserting that the problem does not lie in the technology, but in the use made of it. However, I hesitate to remain in this neutral position because we now have enough data to assert that a good part of the population applicationsHE were intentionally designed with the aim of catch to their users. And this is why I think that in conscience, we have a duty to associate ourselves with social initiatives (#MobileFreeAdolescence), who have openly positioned themselves against the widespread practice of indiscriminately giving cell phones to children and adolescents.
If we are a little honest, we will have to start by recognizing that beyond the undeniable advantages, new communication technologies have generated many harmful effects on those of us who are adults. The challenge is general and not just generational. I heard a deceased man of God say, “New technologies are good servants, but very bad masters. »
However, if adults have problems in the balanced management of social networks and other computer applications, what is not happening with children and adolescents who find themselves in such a particularly vulnerable stage? The data “sings”: since 2019, the phenomenon of self-harm increased by 592% (data from the ANAR foundation). 20% of adolescents have mutilated themselves at some point and 11.5% have done it frequently (ANAR). Over the past 10 years, there has been a 3,543% increase in suicidal thoughts and attempts (ANAR). THE violence childcare has increased by 400% (police sources). We could continue to flood this article with alarming data…
However, despite the fact that we live in the midst of continued warnings about the mental health emergency, no one seems to answer the key question: who is responsible for this emergency and who should take appropriate action? ? Who is bellowing the cat?… inaction of the authorities This seems tragic to me. It is enough to recall the shameful fiasco to which the promise of the Spanish government was reduced, which announced measures for the start of the school year which would prevent minors from accessing pornographic, violent and negative content. All this came to nothing, as the lack of will to intervene became evident.
At this point it should be clear to us that what the family itself does not do, the public authority will not do; and although I think we are late, it is vital that, in a subsidiary way, the Church offers itself to families to help with digital education. In our Diocese of Orihuela-Alicante We are preparing to implement in our diocesan schools a project of digital responsibilitywith the aim that families can support each other, by making confluent decisions, to conclude by translating them into a family pact. The stakes are high when it comes to how to integrate the use of technology into family life.
We know that it is not easy to get rid of bad habits acquired in the use of technologies and that is why we should start by eradicating the provision of mobile In early ages. To give an example, it is a true tragedy that the gifts of the first communion are the door through which pornography becomes present in the lives of children. More and more professionals are advising us to delay purchasing a cell phone for our children until they are 16 years old.
The dates are approaching when consumerist propaganda This pushes us to make numerous purchases without sufficient discernment: November 29 will be Black Friday; December 2 is Cyber Monday; and although – naive on our part – it may seem that the Christmas and Three Kings holidays put an end to it, the reductions on the price of January will take care of getting us out of this deception, since the incitement to consumerism does not has no end.
It would be a shame to get drawn into this whirlwind by opting for a poisoned gift… The cell phone can wait!
Jose Ignacio Munilla East bishop of Orihuela-Alicante
