Is Social Networking Sinful?

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benny_f

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I use social networking sites like Facebook, but I’m beginning to think they are sinful. So many people use them to portray a very different life to the one they lead. They seem to advertise vanity and avariciousness i.e. posting dozens of photos of yourself and “collecting” friends.

They also allow for many groups to be created which advocate violence, discrimination or anti-Catholic sentiments.

So is social networking sinful, and if no, why isn’t it???
 
Social networks are just another means of socialising. In the same way as one can have good or bad friends face to face, they can socialise with good or bad people online.

It is not the sites as much as it is the people one should be wary of.
 
Remember that you can make the case, (if your neurotic enough) that everything can be sinful.

I once heard someone say, “You can make a theory that we where all created five minutes ago with food in out stomachs, wrinkles on our faces, and memories pre-programmed in our brains. You can make it sound really good, and probably convince some people that it’s true. Doesn’t make it so.” That saying is very important, because it reminds us that some people will be convinced to believe anything if it sounds good enough.

Of course it’s not sinful. Why? Because it’s morally neutral. Can it be used in a sinful way? Of course it can be. Heck, PRAYER can be sinful (IE-praying for things like more money when you already have alot, praying for something bad to happen to someone else).

Social networking can be used for great means. I’ve met up with old friends, and developed some super new one on my Facebook. It boils down to two naughty words-Personal Responsibility.
 
benny_f said:
I use social networking sites like Facebook, but I’m beginning to think they are sinful. So many people use them to portray a very different life to the one they lead. They seem to advertise vanity and avariciousness i.e. posting dozens of photos of yourself and “collecting” friends.

They also allow for many groups to be created which advocate violence, discrimination or anti-Catholic sentiments.

So is social networking sinful, and if no, why isn’t it???
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I’m not religious, but…I can see your concern. I’ll give you an example…I’ll use me.

I have some people on my “friends list” I don’t know face to face, but they are members of a atheist network, and some can be quiet militant.
Me, personally, I think the militant stance is a bit crass, even though I agree with a lot of what they say.

So, I try to block any responses I generate (for instance, responding to comments) that might offend my Christian friends. (you have the option to do this).

I also try to block any comments I post that might offend teens(my kid,and his friends) so they don’t see them.

SO, yeah, I can understand where you are coming from. I do know people who do not let their teens have a social networking page. My son has one (FB), but he rarely uses it. Usually, his friend’s hijacking his page to play games;0)
 
It’s not an intrinsic evil. Like many things in the world today, social networking is neutral and can be used either for good or evil. And like phoenix said, you should be careful what you view and post, because anybody can report you and lie about their reasons just because they disagree, which can cause the facebook team to kill your profile.
 
benny_f said:
I use social networking sites like Facebook, but I’m beginning to think they are sinful. So many people use them to portray a very different life to the one they lead. They seem to advertise vanity and avariciousness i.e. posting dozens of photos of yourself and “collecting” friends.

They also allow for many groups to be created which advocate violence, discrimination or anti-Catholic sentiments.

So is social networking sinful, and if no, why isn’t it???
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Not the thing in itself, no—any more than reading, eating, or listening to music.

You do realize caveat emptor applies. But yes, I would like for those sites to be more family-friendly, and if enough of us ask for it, it may come about.
 
Sailor_Kenshin said:
Not the thing in itself, no—any more than reading, eating, or listening to music.

You do realize caveat emptor applies. But yes, I would like for those sites to be more family-friendly, and if enough of us ask for it, it may come about.
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It’s not sinful in itself but it can certainly be sinful for some and a near occasion of sin for others and we are supposed to avoid those. CAF can also be the same. If it takes a person away from their responsibilities or if it causes them to avoid real life relationships then it is harmful. It all boils down to individual (including parental) responsibility.
 
momor said:
It’s not sinful in itself but it can certainly be sinful for some and a near occasion of sin for others and we are supposed to avoid those. CAF can also be the same. If it takes a person away from their responsibilities or if it causes them to avoid real life relationships then it is harmful. It all boils down to individual (including parental) responsibility.
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I believe I just said that.
 
My .02 cents.

Social networking is like many other forms of activity.

It can be sin if our intent is not directly aimed at pleasing God. If it’s directed to serve our pride, our vanity, or lust, our over-curiosity, our busy body nature, our love of comfort, having our own ears tickled, etc, then it can become a source of sin.

If instead we’re trying to serve God, trying to make others lives more pleasing, pursuing or helping others to pursue truth, discuss true beauty, learn new ways of being good, and loving others it’s not a sin.

If the time we spend on it though is really at the expense of our near at hand duties at home…helping our children grow and develop, taking a walk with our spouse, reading a good book to give to someone else…then it could be a source of sin, or a near occasion of sin.
 
Using social networking in itself is not sinful.
It can be sinful if you post a hostile message, looking at the sexy photos lustfully, use it to talk bad about others, wasting time on it and not doing things that you should do, etc.
I’ve see many Christian groups there. Facebook can be a great and free way to get your messages across everybody in the group…
 
benny_f said:
I use social networking sites like Facebook, but I’m beginning to think they are sinful. So many people use them to portray a very different life to the one they lead. They seem to advertise vanity and avariciousness i.e. posting dozens of photos of yourself and “collecting” friends.

They also allow for many groups to be created which advocate violence, discrimination or anti-Catholic sentiments.

So is social networking sinful, and if no, why isn’t it???
Click to expand...
I would say that it is not inherently sinful (there exists the Catholic Social Networking Website XT3 on which the Pope has made an announcement personally). But SNW’s can be occasions of sin. People can fall into pride or vanity, etc. However it doesn’t make it wrong for everyone.

Once again, texting isn’t an inherently immoral act, but it can become immoral if used in a perversion of the normal function (whether it be immoral texts or used to the point of gluttony, etc).

But SNW’s can be resources for Catholics. I know that I am here only through the wonders of a Catholic Facebook group named ‘We’re not Crazy, We’re just Catholic’. This is where I started to learn about my faith.

-Prophecy
 
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