Pope Francis visited Venice, Italy, at the end of April to meet with young people, where he quoted Mary’s response when she learned she would become the mother of Jesus: “Mary set out and went with haste” [Luke 1:39]. The pope encouraged young people to rise up and urged them not to “spend all day sitting on the sofa” but to courageously take control of their lives. They could open the gospel, put down their phones, and meet people in real life.
The pope, who uses social media effectively, has noticed that young people today are surrounded by smartphones and electronic games. However, this phenomenon of “phubbing” is not limited to just the youth. Whether on public transport, in malls, or restaurants, we often see people buried in their smartphones playing games, checking news, or refreshing social media. Even while walking down the street, some are glued to their phones, risking accidents. This kind of mobile phone addiction and over-dependence on electronic products is called “digital dementia” in Japan.
According to a November 2023 from the Hong Kong Census and Statistics Department, approximately 6.2 million people aged 10 and above owned smartphones in 2022, with a penetration rate of 97.1 per cent, a significant increase from 54 per cent a decade ago. Regarding Internet usage, the number of users increased from 4.58 million in 2012 [accounting for 72.9 per cent of all residents aged 10 and above] to 6.13 million in 2022 [95.6 per cent], with an average annual growth rate of three per cent. Additionally, almost everyone between the ages of 15 and 54 owns a smartphone. More than 85 per cent of those between 10 and 14 years old own a smartphone. Ten years ago, only about 45 per cent of children owned a smartphone, the growth rate is tremendous.
People’s long-term use of electronic products may not only affect their eyesight, but also the balanced development of the brain which makes it difficult to concentrate on work. Over-reliance on smartphones and virtual social media networks reduces opportunities for physical interaction with others, potentially leading to social detachment, emotional impacts, and even social disorders.
This Sunday is Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit descended upon the disciples in the form of tongues of fire after Jesus’ Ascension. The disciples were immediately filled with vigour and boldly opened the doors to proclaim to people. They embraced the mission of evangelisation, set forth by the resurrected Lord Jesus to spread the good news throughout the world.
It marks the birth of the Church. As baptised Catholics, we bear the mission of evangelization too. Through the sacrament of Confirmation, we receive the Holy Spirit who grants us seven gifts: fear of the Lord, piety, knowledge, fortitude, counsel, understanding, and wisdom. These seven gifts help us understand God’s truths and courageously act in accordance with the Lord’s will.
Let us then make good use of the graces bestowed upon us by God, and step out of our self-imposed confines to seize opportunities to meet people, witnessing God’s love. SE
