Report from the Church of England Warns of Social Media’s Effects on Intellect
A report spanning 57 pages on trust and trustworthiness within the Church of England has cautioned against relying too heavily on social media.
The Church of England report has characterized the “indiscriminate use of social media” as potentially making people “stupid.”
Furthermore, the report suggests that social media has led society to be hastier in passing judgment on others and less critical in discerning reliable sources of information.
The report, slated for presentation to the General Synod in the upcoming month, recommends that individuals identifying as Christians should imagine their social media content being physically printed out for scrutiny in the presence of Christ.
The report argues, “We deceive ourselves into believing we are better informed due to the easy accessibility to vast amounts of information.”
“Nevertheless, through our unrestricted use of social media, we risk diminishing our ability to make sound judgments about where to invest our trust,” it emphasizes.
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The report indicates that people are increasingly impulsive in amplifying, accelerating, and setting the tone of judgment towards their leaders and are becoming lax in scrutinizing the accuracy and reliability of the information or sources they base their judgments on.
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Some individuals are at risk of neglecting to seek opposing viewpoints online, thereby becoming less knowledgeable. In certain exchanges, we fail to rigorously track the source’s identity or question its motives,” it adds.
Authored by Professor Emeritus David Ford from the University of Cambridge, Veronica Hope Hailey from the University of Bristol, and Gordon Jump from the National Church Institutions, the report elaborates on how the time spent by Britons online and the omnipresence of social media in both professional and personal spheres have altered our interactions.
It portrays the social media era as a “valley of constant scrutiny” where knee-jerk judgments are passed based on unreliable information.
The report advocates for church leaders to embody trustworthiness and provide hope in turbulent times, emphasizing the need for accountability, integrity, goodwill, and transparency in their actions.
