14th YouMiCon: Overcoming “Filters” Towards Full Presence
by Clyde Ericson Nolasco
photos from ACY-Manila Facebook page
To see is to believe. But in an era when almost everything can be edited, adjusted, or filtered, can we still believe what we see?
In celebration of Youth Month in the Archdiocese of Manila, the Archdiocesan Commission on Youth (ACY) staged the 14th YouMiCon, or Youth Ministry Conference last September 26, serving as the celebration’s culminating and cornerstone activity at Paco Catholic School.
The whole activity’s theme, “Overcome,” is inspired by next year’s World Youth Day in Seoul, South Korea. Based on the words, “Take courage! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33), it is a declaration of Christ’s ultimate victory through His Paschal Mystery. Attended by hundreds of young people and youth ministers, this year’s YouMiCon seeks to inspire young people to rise above struggles and self-doubt, while recognizing and responding to the challenges of an ever-changing world.
Still inspired by the spirit of ACDMA, I said yes to the invitation to once again take part in the celebration. I was invited to share on one of the issue-based breakout sessions entitled "Filtered Reality."
Filtered Reality
The advent of modernity and technology is indeed a blessing. Along with the Fourth Industrial revolution or 4IR, humanity was able to integrate machines into our daily lives transforming the way we work, communicate, learn and even interact with one another. Digital advancements made information accessible, communication immediate and our lives more convenient.
However, technological progress comes with a price. As technology shapes our daily experiences, it also shapes how we perceive reality. With the users able to edit, adjust, and create content online, we now live in a filtered reality: a reality that is not necessarily false, but one that is increasingly selected, shaped, and presented to us through digital technologies. With algorithms, deepfakes, and artificial intelligence, disinformation and misinformation are becoming more prevalent. Mental health, cyberbullying and identity struggles are also becoming increasingly alarming as we embrace influencer and cancel cultures.
See, Judge, Act
With all the filters that come with what we consume online, simply seeing is no longer enough.
The Catholic tradition offers a simple but powerful way of discerning reality amidst filters: See-Judge-Act. Associated with Cardinal Joseph Cardijn and the Young Christian Workers movement, this three-part method invites us to look at reality with honesty, discern in the light of faith, and respond with compassion.
As we go through layers and layers of filters, the Church offers See-Judge-Act. See through the filters: pause before commenting and reacting. Check the context or sources and examine if there’s AI involvement, or manipulation of information. Then, judge with discernment: do not immediately believe especially the viral and trending content. Be able to distinguish fact, opinion, and accusation. Finally, act as a fruit of discernment: do not share harmful content. Correct disinformation and misinformation, and report abuses.
Let Others See Jesus in You
But as Catholics filled with the love of the Holy Spirit and as we take part in the digital mission, the challenge is to let others see Jesus in us, even online.
Inspired by the Vatican’s Towards Full Presence: A Pastoral Reflection on Engagement with Social Media, a document of the Dicastery for Communication for the 57th World Communications Day in 2023, let us overcome these filters by becoming fully present in the digital world. Let us —
Be Fully Present with God — May we not forget that everything begins and ends with God, especially as we go online. More than simply using digital platforms to express ourselves, we can use them to proclaim the Gospel to the world.
Be Present for Others — Behind every screen is a person. Be fully present by moving beyond profiles, reactions and comments. Let every click be an opportunity for encounter that nurtures relationships and communities.
Be Present to Truth — In an era when information can easily be modified and manipulated, let us uphold the truth. May we have eyes that can see through lies and hearts that stand for the truth.
Be Present with Compassion — Online interactions can easily turn into judgment, bias, or hostility. We are challenged to respond with empathy, understanding, and care. Let us keep our humanity in the midst of ever-changing technology.
Be Present as a Witness — As baptized Christians, we are sent on mission. As digital citizens, we are called to become witnesses of Christ in the digital world. May every post, reaction, and interaction be a testament to our love for God.
Let’s overcome the challenges of the digital world. Let’s see through the filters. Let’s offer our full presence, not by leaving the digital world, but by making a difference as witnesses of Christ, online and offline.
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