The Communication Divide

In 1967, when the first World Communications Day was held, social communication media meant press, radio, TV and movies. Today, as we approach the 53rd World Communications Day, communication media includes the Internet and every Internet tool imaginable with more being created every day. The Millennial generation, those born between 1981 and 1996 were the first to come of age in a digital world. Generation Z, born in 1997 and later, was born into the digital age.

Many of the life experiences of these younger generations are different from the life experiences of older generations. They access and generate information, network with their friends, family, and colleagues differently than their parents and grandparents. Many of them have never read a newspaper except online, mailed a letter or been to a Post Office, seen or needed an offline encyclopedia or a pay phone (even though they still exist). Before they get out of bed in the morning, some of them check their email, direct messages and social media accounts. If they need information, they “Google” it. They expect the information they need to be online, all information, even faith, religious and church related information.

The Internet empowers every person with a digital device and an Internet connection to produce and distribute their own news and information in ways never imagined by previous generations. What they produce is not always good or true, but it is “out there” for anyone to find. Like all life experiences, life online can be either positive or negative depending on choices made.

The question that dioceses, parishes, religious communities and ministers need to ask is: Are our methods and tools of communication reaching all generations or are we only speaking to those born before 1981? Keep in mind, that many people born before 1981 are onboard with the digital age and have similar expectations of those born later. To all of these people, we do not exist if we are not online. If our online presence is not helpful or of poor quality, we are dismissed as irrelevant. They click away in a matter of seconds, never to return.

The purpose of the annual World Communications Day, which this year occurs on June 2, is to call our attention to the “vast and complex” and ever evolving array of social communications. We need to explore how we can use them to advance the mission of Christ on earth, to promote the common good and build up loving and supportive communities who come together not just online, but in person. If we fail to utilize the new communication tools available to us as part of our ministries, eventually, we could go the way of pay phones and encyclopedias, replaced by those who choose to serve and be available online as well as in person.

You can read Pope Francis’s 2019 World Communications Day message here.

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