Vatican official reflects on social media and ‘cross-generational dialogue’

April 17, 2013

In an interview with Vatican Radio, the secretary of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications reflected on the need “for what you could almost call a cross-generational dialogue” about social media.

“Young people have an extraordinary amount to teach us about the new technologies, about their creative capacities,” said Msgr. Paul Tighe, who is 55. “If I approach a new technology or platform I look for the instructions. They just go ahead and use it.”

At the same time, the Irish priest said, the old have much to teach the young.

“A good friend is not something that you necessarily acquire simply by going on Facebook,” said Msgr. Tighe. “For ‘generation Facebook,’ friendship is sometimes understood more quantitatively than qualitatively.”

Msgr. Tighe made his comments in view of the upcoming conference of SIGNIS (the World Catholic Association for Communication), which will take place in Beirut. The conference’s theme is “Media for a Culture of Peace: Creating Images with the New Generation.”

 

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Further information:

• Signis World Congress Beirut: Media for a Culture of Peace (Vatican Radio)
• SIGNIS World Congress 2013