Of the many things already considered necessary in today’s internet-connected world, Facebook probably takes a big chunk of the top spot. Students use it, both working class and tambays have it, and even senior citizens are among its patrons. For more than 30M Filipinos, FB is part of their lives.
I started using FB around mid-2009. I was stimulated to use FB because it connected user-friends (and consequently, left out non-users), not to mention it appeared the hype then. Before that, one was asked, “What’s your email add?” or “Can I have your number?” But at that time up to now, people are already asking for each other’s FB account.
If today’s world is driven by the “right here, right now” attitude, by the “instant” (instant coffee, instant noodles, etc.) mentality, then FB helps feed that drive by providing people with instant updates (posts), instant conversations (messaging or chat), and even instant affirmation (with the likes gained by a post).
I, as an FB user, am directly involved in my account (unless it gets hacked, God-forb... Oops, no mention of God about the experience, right? At least not in this part yet). I scan my wall, I choose what to like and comment on, I make my post, I decide on friend requests.
My use of FB allows me to discover new things about others, about the world, and also about myself.
Some of these things totally affect me, such as overly emotional and bashing comments in support of the RH Bill or of corrupt politicians who deny their wrongdoing to the heavens (with one even involving the rosary in allegedly promoting himself). And I am not alone in many of these affairs. The likes a certain post gets, the number of shares and comments: All these show how a personal stand can be shared by and influence many others.
Which brings me to ponder: How does this social media platform, conceived by its owners without God in the picture, facilitate religious experience? How does the purpose it serves and the meaning it can convey include God in the package?
From my personal use of FB, I can identify three primary purposes: To connect or reach out to friends and acquaintances, to inform them and possibly everyone else about myself and my thoughts and them to me, and to engage one another in conversation--from the cliché type to the sometimes fiery exchange and even to gut level sharing.
As to the first, FB has helped me connect with friends, and often it is for reasons where God is involved, such as for birthdays (“To a dear friend, teacher... happy birthday! Thank God for the gift that is you.” “Happy birthday! Praise God for the gift of your life!”), for other occasions (“I will be in the christening.” “Prepare your wedding liturgy text? Sure! May Christ’s love be your source and inspiration”) and for needs (“I pray for your quick and full recovery; may God’s healing grace be upon you.” “Wow, you will do emceeing tomorrow! I'm sure you will do very well. May the Holy Spirit be with you."). Here I recall Jesus’ assurance that “where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them” [Mt 18:20]. I think of stretching this a bit to include those who connect out of true friendship, who gather in love to express love, for where charity is, there God is.
Getting people informed is also a fruit of my FB use. While it is instrumental in bearing evil fruit (think scams and porn groups, etc.) and in causing confusion (think facebook.com/celebratepride, or links that get viral despite being dubious), FB has also been useful for me and for people I know of getting life-giving messages across to others, and often with very touching effects. I remember how, one January, I shared about a big Eucharistic adoration that will take place, and one friend, who admitted getting to a low point in his life, asked about it further. After the event, he thanked me profusely about how participating in the adoration has rekindled his relationship with Jesus and gave him renewed strength.
Finally, if FB helps me engage others and them to me, I wonder: How does God engage me through FB? I can only trust that He allows things to happen, including technological advances and social media, to become ways of engaging us in His gratuitous love. I realize now that many of the thoughts I post on FB, I do so in order to share an edifying insight, an inspiring experience, or a prayerful request. And often as well, people reply to it with a God-connected message.
If the Word can, and did, become flesh to dwell among us, how can I not believe that He can be in and through Facebook to make His loving Presence experienced by us?
*This article is the first of a series of reflection papers for the subject Fundamental Theology in the Don Bosco Center of Studies, for my Masters in Religious Studies. I decided to share this today, the 12th "birthday" of Facebook; may it grow in both wisdom and grace, in the favor of God and the human community (cf. Lk 2:52).
