Reaching Individuals in a Social Media Age: A Resource for the Catholic Church

REACHING INDIVIDUALSin a Social Media Age

based on theory by Barry Vackerpresentation by Angela Santana

A RESOURCE FOR THE CATHOLIC CHURCH

How do we reach people with our Message?

As Church, we have the same problem today as the disciples did nearly 2000 years ago:

Social media are permeating society:

Today, however, the problem has become more refined.

940 MILLIONindividuals worldwide use social networking websites†

60% OF TIMEusing a mobile phone is spent on social networking*

† According to a study by InSites, March 22, 2010*U.S. mobile subscribers. According to a study by Ground Truth, week ending April 4, 2010

how can we reach more individuals for the Catholic Church?

IN THIS “SOCIAL MEDIA AGE,”

TO ANSWER THIS QUESTION,we need to focus on how social media

have affected individuals

CULTURALLY.

In his work,

GLOBAL VILLAGE OR WORLD BAZAAR?

communications theorist Barry Vacker suggests...

INFORMATION REVOLUTIONS,like the widespread use of the Internet, lead to...

CULTURAL REVOLUTIONSat the levels of individual, group, and nation-state.

Living in a social media age has affected individuals.

IN OTHER WORDS:

INDIVIDUALS TODAYsend and receive an unprecedented amount of information, via

text / images / video / audio

INDIVIDUALS TODAYuse these media to interact with an unprecedented amount of people, from many different backgrounds:

religious / cultural / economic / educational / psychological / emotional

THAT MEANSpeople are constantly interactingwith others who are similar to or different from them,gathering new, countless perspectives on...

religion / God / forgiveness

Jesus / ethics / sin / Catholicism

abortion / euthanasia / contraception

Vatican / capital punishment / love / war

Virgin Mary / marriage / family / femininity

in vitro fertilization / justice / masculinity

hell / heaven / purgatory / Bible / baptism/ faith

Eucharist / apostolic succession / saints / demons

occult / prayer / resurrection /

etc.

WITH SO MANY PERSPECTIVES,people are forced to

decide for themselves:

WHAT’S RIGHTwhat’s wrong

WHAT’S TRUEwhat’s false

CONVERSATIONS

BUT THESE DECISIONS ARE HAPPENING IN THE CONTEXT OF

CONVERSATIONS

BUT THESE DECISIONS ARE HAPPENING IN THE CONTEXT OF

via text / images / video / audio

the Church must have representatives engaging in conversations.

In order to reach individuals,

ANDsince today’s individuals are not only listeners but also voices,

Church representatives need totake time to

LISTEN.

Listening is imperative.

Don’t publish a video or start a blogor create a Facebook pageif you aren’t willing to listen.

NEXT,

More peoplewith more opinions means

MORE DEBATE.

The Church must realisticallyanticipate debaterather than avoid it.

Anticipate debate.Listen,and respond.

Post thoughtful video responses,frequently asked questions,or a blog response

BUT BEAR IN MIND:

Response is part of conversation,not the end of the conversation.

remember:

SO, WHEN USING NEW MEDIA TO REACH INDIVIDUALS FOR THE CHURCH,

There are a lot of conversations out there.

The Church has to engage

viaDIGGYOUTUBETWITTERFACEBOOK etc

anticipate debate

listen

respond

and never stop conversing

or valuing each individual

as a decision-maker

who is inundated with ideas

and searching for Truth.