February 27, 2021
JMJ
An audio essay by Thomas Hackett which describes the sin of "digital gluttony", analyzes how it is fueled by the late-capitalist "attention economy", and offers some advice on how to escape the technocratic paradigm.
Summary of Advice
Using the Internet Intentionally
- Long lock-screen password
- Prayers before logging on
- Log out of social media, every time
- Turn off wifi at appointed times
- Sleep away from your phone
Removing Occasions of Sin
- Turn screen black and white
- Turn off all notifications
- Delete Apps
- Use productivity blockers
Escaping the Technocratic Paradigm
- Good: Switch to a Light Phone (link)
- Better: Switch to a Flip Phone (link)
- Best: Get rid of your phone!
Sources and Authorities
St Thomas Aquinas on the Vice of Curiosity and the Virtue of Studiousness
Redemptoris Missio (cf. Section 37) | Pope Saint John Paul II
Laudato Si' (cf. Chapter III) | Pope Francis
Fratelli Tutti (cf. Sections 42-50) | Pope Francis
Message of Saint JPII on the Internet (2002)
Recommended Readings
The Addiction Problem in Catholic Media | The Lamp
"A Monastic Vice for the Internet Age" | First Things
The Website of Blessed Carlo Acutis
Fr John Hollowell on Logging Off
The "Phones Are Bad" Animation (by Steve Cutts)
Citations
"Minimized Distraction" (February 2013) | A presentation by Tristan Harris
"The Binge Breaker" | The Atlantic
Statistics on the Core of the Digital Economy
"The digital economy is becoming ordinary" [i.e. dominating every corner of the physical economy with the technocratic paradigm]
Closing Prayer
Lord Jesus, by the power of Thy Name, conquer the Internet. Make this new forum of modern communication, forged by warfare and capitalism, a pliant tool of Thy faithful to proclaim Thy Truth and serve the common good of the whole human race; for swords Thou beatest to ploughshares, and spears into sickles (Isaiah 2:4).
Lord Jesus, Fount of Wisdom, restrain our curiosity and draw us out of the flood of information that we may encounter true wisdom in Thee. Teach me the meaning of Thy proverb: "Study wisdom, my son, and make my heart joyful, that thou mayest give an answer to him that reproacheth." (Proverbs 27:11)
Lord Jesus, Word made flesh, ensare the restless evil of my tongue, that I may seek souls in every message and post. Grant me charity, lest I tremble at Thy doctrine: "Whosoever shall say to his brother... Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire." (Matthew 5:22)
O Face of Christ, emerge! O Voice of Christ, be heard! Rebuke the winds and calm the sea in this galaxy of sight and sound. By Thy command we wait, to put out nets into the deep, and draw forth what Thou wilt. (Luke 5:4) Amen.
Saint Isidore of Seville, pray for us.
Encyclopedist of God, pray for us.
Last Scholar of the Ancient World, pray for us.
Saint John Paul II, pray for us.
Harbinger of the New Millenium, pray for us.
Prophet of the New Evangelization, pray for us.
Blessed Carlo Acutis, pray for us.
Eucharistic Programmer, pray for us.
Patron of the Internet, pray for us.
Music:
"I Should Probably Go To Bed" | Dan + Shay
"The Smartphone Hour" | Be More Chill
"Twitter Rap" | Dan Bull
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