Episode 26

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Published on:

11th Sep 2024

26: Identifying & Combating Social Media Addiction | Maclaine Noah

Mari Wagner sits down with Catholic content creator Maclaine Noah to explore the impact of social media and specifically social media addiction. Known for her Instagram account @acatholicconvo, Maclaine shares her journey of balancing her online presence with real-life commitments, and the unseen addiction challenges social media can present. The discussion covers practical tips for managing social media use, the importance of intentionality, and the spiritual implications of overconsumption. Together they offer guidance on how to make social media a tool for good without compromising one's mental, physical, and spiritual well-being.

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Follow Maclaine on Instagram @acatholicconvo and her social media examination of conscience is pinned at the top of her account.

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Transcript
Speaker:

Hey, I'm your host, Mari Wagner,

and you're listening to the ever be

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podcast where faith meets lifestyle.

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I'm so excited you're here, whether you're

a new listener or a longtime follower,

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I know there's something here for you.

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Pull up a chair and listen in for

insightful real life conversations

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and actionable steps on how to claim

the full life God created you for.

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If you're a woman desiring to live

a Christ centered life in today's

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modern world, then this is for you.

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Welcome to Ever Be.

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mari-wagner_1_08-01-2024_091105:

All right.

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Happy Wednesday friends.

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We have a long time friend

on the podcast here today.

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McLean Noah.

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If you follow her on Instagram

at a Catholic convo, you

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probably know who she is.

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She was like one of the OG

Catholic content creators

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back in the day and still is.

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I think before I started my account,

some of my friends were like, you should

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follow this girl, like a Catholic convo.

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Like, this is kind of what

we feel like you should do.

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So like, she's the OG basically.

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Um, so McLean welcome to ever be,

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maclaine-noah_1_08-01-2024_091105:

Hi, thanks for having me.

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Uh, it is an honor.

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So thank you, Mari.

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mari-wagner_1_08-01-2024_091105:

can you tell us a little bit about

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who you are and what you're doing

in case people maybe don't know

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who you are, don't follow you yet.

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maclaine-noah_1_08-01-2024_091105:

Yes, absolutely.

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Um, so my name is McLean.

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I am a young woman living in South

Dakota, which, um, Knowing me, I

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never thought I would say, but,

um, basically I am a mother, I'm

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a wife, I am a beloved daughter.

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Um, those actually go in backwards

order, so you can just reverse that

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and that's the order they go in.

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And, um, yeah, I'm very passionate

about, um, social media, the effect

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that it has on the church and, uh,

the greater role of evangelization.

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Um, but also all of the, um, things that

can come with social media as far as the

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negative sides that I don't know are being

spoken about enough I think everyone has

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experienced and it's kind of this like

secret, uh, unmentioned thing that we.

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Think we can just kind of

pray about and deal with.

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Um, but I think it should really be part

of a bigger conversation, especially in

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the world of creatives and people who

are in the Catholic Instagram Um, yeah,

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other than that, I love my husband.

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I love my son.

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I love South Dakota and

I'm just happy to be here.

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mari-wagner_1_08-01-2024_091105: Good.

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Yeah, I'm glad that you have opened

up this conversation on Instagram

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and I mean, it's been a few years of

you talking about it here and there.

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So it's not like it's new.

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Um, but I honestly, I just don't

feel like I've seen a lot of

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other people speak on the topic.

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Which is what I thought of you

when I wanted to talk about it.

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And before we hit record, I

was telling McLean selfishly.

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She's here talking about this right now.

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Cause I feel like I'm scrolling a

lot lately and I like need boundaries

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and I need a conversation with

someone to be like, okay, what are,

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what is the purpose of social media?

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How do we know when we're going too far?

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How do we know when it's using

us instead of us using it?

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Um, so I'm excited to jump in, but

I think, uh, just starting kind

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of in a baseline level talk to

us about like, What do you feel

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like is social media addiction?

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Um, how did you become

interested in this topic?

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And like, what really is

it just on a basic level?

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maclaine-noah_1_08-01-2024_091105: Yeah,

um, so addiction is a very bold word and

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I do use that word on purpose because

I think it creates a sense of urgency

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and also speaks into other vices that

we can experience and other forms of

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addiction that we can experience so,

um, Nothing that I say is going to be,

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you know, I'm not trained in addiction

or, um, you know, any, anything that is,

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uh, medically involved with what we're

going to be talking about, um, but just

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looking and observing and being in the

social media world and then having my.

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A humble understanding of,

um, vice and Catholicism is

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what I'll be speaking out of.

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But, um, social media addiction is

basically a way of, um, indicating when.

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You have an overuse of social media.

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So overuse is a lighter term that we can

use Um, but basically you feel a tie or

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you see yourself Uh the physical action

of being tied to social media in a way.

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That's not Moderate or not prudent.

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So just like um addiction to alcohol

is going to be over consumption of

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alcohol or whatever Um, kind of like a

worshiping in a sense, I idolatry of.

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a thing is going to lead

into that addiction.

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so when we idolize and, um, kind

of worship social media in our

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time and in our hearts, what I'm

referring to with, um, social media

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addiction, if that makes sense.

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mari-wagner_1_08-01-2024_091105: Yeah, no,

that's a really great, um, explanation.

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What can this look like

practically for somebody?

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How can we kind of maybe like

take note of our actions?

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maclaine-noah_1_08-01-2024_091105: Yeah.

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So this is gonna look different for a

ton of people, which is why it's tricky.

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but.

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Essentially, the reason why I became

so passionate talking about this was

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because of The, my own poverty that

I found in, uh, social media overuse.

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And so what I found was an initial desire

and heart for, um, being a Catholic

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voice on Instagram and sharing the

gospel and sharing my life in order to

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witness to what Jesus has done for me.

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Um,

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you, uh, that's really easy to do if you

think of the context of a blog, like a

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website blog, because that's really a

one sided, you're putting out things and

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then, um, you're kind of closing that blog

social media when it was introduced this

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back and forth interactive concept that

allowed people to, um, Continue to invest

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in the platform as it invests in them.

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So you're being given content and reels

and an explore page, um, all the time,

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even when you're just trying to create.

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What you want to create on the

platform, if that makes sense.

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there's really no way for you to

just, um, take from social media.

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It is going to take something from you.

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And so you have to know as you're entering

in that that's what we're dealing with.

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Which is why I think.

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Creators need to be more sober to

this reality because it is Something

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that can really draw you in and bring

you into um Social media addiction,

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but if you're looking for indicators,

this would be anything There's going

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to be a full scale, but it could be

anything from um Like scrolling too

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often, which we hear all the time.

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Um, oh, I'm scrolling too much.

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Or I, um, you can maybe retreat from

of your, um, daily tasks to lay on

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the couch and scroll just for a little

bit, but maybe for a little bit more.

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Um, it could be, you know, like you.

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You can't really go to the restroom

without bringing your phone.

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You can't, run an errand

without bringing your phone.

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Um, and maybe some people have

phones without social media.

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So that's why it's, you got to

think about your own situation.

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mari-wagner_1_08-01-2024_091105: Right.

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maclaine-noah_1_08-01-2024_091105:

and then it can get all the way to.

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know, retreating from personal

relationships, prayer, your

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relationship with God in exchange

for more time on social media.

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So what we're talking about is really just

an increased use of social media that is

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somehow altering or even detrimental to

relationships or activities in your life.

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mari-wagner_1_08-01-2024_091105: Yeah,

and it seems like it's like, whether

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it's a passive or active choice to choose

social media over other things more often.

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So I'm thinking to, um,

to add to this list, like.

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How many times do you pick up your

phone and maybe even open the app?

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I mean, we can talk about phone

addiction one, but right now we're just

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focusing on social media addiction,

but like, first of all, how many

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times are we picking up your phone?

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How many times are we opening the app?

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Are we doing it?

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Like you said, every time I go to the

bathroom or like anytime you're in a line

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or even like while you're driving and

it's on a red light, are you picking up

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your phone to just be like, Oh, I just.

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I don't know like it's just like a natural

reaction you have of like i'm waiting not

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doing anything for more than 10 seconds So

are you picking up your phone to do that?

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um Yeah, if you're like if you live with

roommates or if you are married and you

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have a husband or a spouse Like are you?

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Using your phone and using social media

while you're in the presence of community.

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Are you in the presence of your husband

and you're just like naturally picking

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it up while you're at dinner or on

the couch or in the car or whatever.

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You know what I mean?

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So those are the things that kind of

came to mind as you were talking of just

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like, in what instances and how often

are we choosing that over something

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else and kind of looking to like, why we

both don't believe social media is bad.

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Right.

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But it's like, okay.

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But like, why are we picking it?

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Do we have a reason to pick it up

every time we're picking it up?

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And I know for myself times when I have

fasted from social media, either like

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randomly or during Lent or something,

and I haven't like deleted the app.

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It's like impossible.

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It's like, you don't realize

how many times you pick it up.

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Just.

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Just to open the app and you're like,

Oh, I'm supposed to be fasting from this.

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Like, why did I even open it?

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Like, why did I even open it?

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It's like the fifth time that

I've opened it and I'm like,

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supposed to be fasting from it.

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So it's really become a thing for a

lot of us and ingrained habit, but

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we don't really have a why behind

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maclaine-noah_1_08-01-2024_091105: Yeah.

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Part of my fear actually comes from.

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The Catholic social media world,

which I do believe is overall doing

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good things, but, um, building that

habit of continuing to open it and

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it's just kind of fine and it's okay.

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I opened it again, um, because what if

you're opening it and in your newsfeed,

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it's a beautiful Catholic post and it's

like scripture and it's the gospel or,

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um, Yeah, it's something inherently.

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And so we can kind of rationalize

an addictive tendency it's Catholic.

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I'm

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mari-wagner_1_08-01-2024_091105:

we're doing

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maclaine-noah_1_08-01-2024_091105:

content.

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mari-wagner_1_08-01-2024_091105: things.

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Yeah.

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Yeah, yeah, yeah.

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And that's a great distinction to make.

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Cause it's like, Of course, like if

you're going to be consuming something,

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yeah, like let's clean out the feed.

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Let's follow people that are actually

sharing the gospel and inspiring

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you to live a Christ centered life.

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But like you're saying at the same time,

that's not an excuse to, uh, overdo it

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and, you know, let go of moderation.

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Um, and you can say that for a lot of

things too, but let's just be realistic.

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Who do you, who do you feel

like is actually struggling with

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social media overuse or addiction?

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maclaine-noah_1_08-01-2024_091105: Yeah.

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So, um, anyone that's going to be

an active social media user, I would

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say should have it on their radar.

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Because, um, I don't know if you have

watched The Social Dilemma on Netflix,

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or, um, anyone listening, if they've

seen it, one of my favorite movies.

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I think it's Very well done.

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Um, it's a documentary about

the roots of social media, um,

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and the effects of social media.

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And, um, you're hearing firsthand from

the creators of these apps and major

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platforms, um, that they were created to.

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Use a piece of you like they are using

the information that you give them, um,

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as even if that's something as simple

as what clothing brand you would want

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to buy from, which isn't a bad thing.

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Um, but.

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I would say, like, anyone who's going to

be on social media, these apps are created

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for addiction because it benefits them for

you to use social media more frequently.

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And so, um, they're often not going

to be looking out for Your personal

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moderation, because if you're on

Instagram longer, then they can feed you

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more ads and get more money ultimately.

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So, anyone who is on social media

should be looking for it, but I would

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say, um, Gen Z, which, um, according

to Pew Research is going to be

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starting at 1997 and younger as far

as a birth year definitely going to be

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Kind of in danger because

we're full digital natives, uh,

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mari-wagner_1_08-01-2024_091105: Yeah,

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maclaine-noah_1_08-01-2024_091105:

an extent, a lot of millennials still

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were kind of in that introducing, um,

timeframe of technology, but that's

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what I would say, which is really

to have the answer of everyone.

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Um, and

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mari-wagner_1_08-01-2024_091105: everyone.

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maclaine-noah_1_08-01-2024_091105:

everyone, everyone, but,

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um, just knowing, I think.

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What comes with other vice and other sin

is saying, like, that could never be me,

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you know, I could never do something,

um, like that, or I would never take part

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in that sin and not realizing that we

are fallen humans and, you know, We are

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capable of any sin, but by God's grace,

that's how we deter away from them.

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So, um, if you're on social

media, look out for him.

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mari-wagner_1_08-01-2024_091105:

Yeah, for sure.

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Can you share maybe from your own life?

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I feel like you shared a bit about

this when you first started, um,

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just opening up the conversation

about social media addiction online.

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Like what were some of the things

you noticed in your own life that

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were kind of tipping you off to

like, Oh, this is like actually going

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in an addictive pattern right now.

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maclaine-noah_1_08-01-2024_091105:

I think the big indicator was I

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was choosing social media over.

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An activity in my life that

actually brought me joy.

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I'm not talking about sitting on a

stoplight or waiting in line where it's

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like, objectively, I would being on

my phone more than waiting in a line.

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Um, that's okay because

that's my, you know, boredom.

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Um, but I'm talking about.

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Things that I loved doing, maybe like, um,

doing photography, or going to a coffee

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shop and reading, or Um, writing something

in my journal, going to the chapel.

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Things that I liked doing when I started

preferring media use and scrolling over

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those when I was like, is not right.

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Because I love these things.

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I love, uh, being with my family, um,

visiting my Newman center, shopping.

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Why?

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I'm choosing social media over that.

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Um, and so that really brought a

lot of fear into my heart of like,

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this is always isolating me, which,

um, in a lot of ways I've made many

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friendships, relationships, connections,

joyful, good things from social media.

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And so that's the hard

part because it can be.

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Really good and really beautiful

when it's used moderately.

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Um,

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mari-wagner_1_08-01-2024_091105: Yeah.

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The key here is moderation, which

we'll get into in a little bit, but

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maclaine-noah_1_08-01-2024_091105: yes.

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mari-wagner_1_08-01-2024_091105: sharing.

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I feel like I remember, um, you sharing

too, which I related to that, like when

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you were in the chapel praying, you

almost had like the like real sounds like

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playing in your head as you were praying.

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And it was like distracting to prayer.

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Cause you're like, all I can think

about is like this freaking trending

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sound that keeps popping up my feed.

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And when you said that,

I was like, Oh wow.

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I feel like I can relate to that,

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maclaine-noah_1_08-01-2024_091105: Yep.

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mari-wagner_1_08-01-2024_091105:

which just shows like the linger.

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The lingering of it I know and it's

like that's kind of hard to control

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sometimes too because the songs are

catchy I'm, like I've got this like

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maclaine-noah_1_08-01-2024_091105: Yeah.

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mari-wagner_1_08-01-2024_091105:

page of dr.

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B in my head like over and over

again right now It's whatever

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this trending sound right now.

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Really?

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maclaine-noah_1_08-01-2024_091105: Yes.

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mari-wagner_1_08-01-2024_091105: gonna

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maclaine-noah_1_08-01-2024_091105: Yeah.

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With

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mari-wagner_1_08-01-2024_091105: just Same

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maclaine-noah_1_08-01-2024_091105:

So, but I mean.

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It's tricky because, you know, I'm

a new mom and the only thing that

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calms down our baby boy is the song

Edelweiss from The Sound of Music.

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And it is a short song with

very few words, and so we're

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singing that daily over and over.

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That gets stuck in my head.

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So it's like It's, it's also a human

thing and just our brains that things

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are going to get stuck in our head.

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But there's a difference like that got

stuck in my head because I was caring

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for my son and trying to console him

with a song versus, um, scrolling 20

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times and I'm seeing that audio over

and over and over, um, and I'm not

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getting off of social media and so

it's in my head, does that make sense?

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There

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mari-wagner_1_08-01-2024_091105: Yeah,

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maclaine-noah_1_08-01-2024_091105:

difference.

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It's

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mari-wagner_1_08-01-2024_091105: totally.

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I

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maclaine-noah_1_08-01-2024_091105: head.

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mari-wagner_1_08-01-2024_091105: want

to circle back to the conversation

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of, uh, the Catholic social media

world that we touched on a little bit.

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Um, we both, like we said earlier, see

so much goodness in beauty and power

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in evangelizing through social media

as that's where our generation is at.

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But I want to talk a little bit

about like, what are the ways

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that we feel like It's helpful.

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What are the ways that maybe

the way we're using social

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media makes this world harmful?

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How can we be aware of that?

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How can we make sure that like

we're approaching this, um, maybe

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as creators, like in a healthy way.

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And then as, as users, as people consuming

the content on the other side, which I'm

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sure is the majority of listeners, um,

how can we consume this in a healthy way?

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maclaine-noah_1_08-01-2024_091105: Yes,

I think there are a lot of helpful things

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about social media and we can list off

a million because the church has urged

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us into this new evangelization and

that includes in the digital world.

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Like we go, the church

has always gone where.

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Her people are, and so

we will go to Instagram.

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I will go to Instagram and evangelize

if people are there and they are.

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Um, I think on Pew research, it says

69 percent of adults and 81 percent

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of teens are social media users.

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So it's continuing, continuing

to climb and, um, we really want

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to meet them where they are.

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And so in that way.

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Social media is so helpful

because you think of conference.

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We were both just at the

national Eucharistic Congress.

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Um, what if, you know, monstrance was

in their explore page, a user's explore

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page that has never seen a monstrance.

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They have no idea what that is.

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don't know who Jesus is and

they see it for the first time.

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That was a way that God could.

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of come into their life, but it has to

be that starting point that would launch

334

:

into in person incarnational relationship

because Jesus if social media was

335

:

necessary for a relationship with Christ

or Necessary for evangelization, then

336

:

he would have come with a smartphone.

337

:

Do you know what I mean?

338

:

And like he would have

come with a Facebook page

339

:

mari-wagner_1_08-01-2024_091105:

You're right.

340

:

I've never thought about it that way.

341

:

Yeah,

342

:

maclaine-noah_1_08-01-2024_091105:

have come verified.

343

:

He would have had the blue check and he

344

:

mari-wagner_1_08-01-2024_091105:

he was the biggest influencer.

345

:

He was, but

346

:

maclaine-noah_1_08-01-2024_091105:

Exactly.

347

:

Yes.

348

:

so that tells us that it's not necessary.

349

:

What Jesus did use were new

words, new teachings that linked

350

:

back to the old Testament.

351

:

He presented teachings in new

ways that we could understand.

352

:

He loved people in a very different.

353

:

Culturally groundbreaking way.

354

:

um, used new means of evangelization.

355

:

And so that's why the church says

technology is a tool that we can use.

356

:

But like you said, in the beginning of

the podcast, um, the, the hard work is to.

357

:

Render technology to our, uh, use and

to use it as a tool so that we aren't

358

:

Have you seen, um, the social dilemma,

359

:

mari-wagner_1_08-01-2024_091105:

I actually haven't when it came

360

:

out, I was like, I'm too scared.

361

:

Like I had, this is going

to make me get off my phone.

362

:

And I was like, I can't, I,

I literally haven't seen it.

363

:

maclaine-noah_1_08-01-2024_091105:

my gosh.

364

:

Okay.

365

:

There's a beautiful quote, beautiful.

366

:

LOL.

367

:

a helpful quote, um, in the movie.

368

:

I forget who it's attributed to,

but it says, um, The only two types

369

:

of goods that consider their, um,

audience to be users are the drug

370

:

industry and the social media industry.

371

:

No one else is a user.

372

:

Like, and so even that language is going

to indicate The fact that, like, we are

373

:

being taken advantage of to some extent.

374

:

Our time is what social media is buying

and taking from us and using of us.

375

:

and our attention.

376

:

Our time and attention.

377

:

Um, you have to watch this movie.

378

:

It's so good, Mari.

379

:

mari-wagner_1_08-01-2024_091105:

And now I'm like, I gotta watch it.

380

:

maclaine-noah_1_08-01-2024_091105: You do.

381

:

With Trey.

382

:

Do it with Trey.

383

:

It'll be great.

384

:

mari-wagner_1_08-01-2024_091105: I will.

385

:

. And one thing I was going to say too,

is we can probably both say a little

386

:

bit about this too, if you feel like

you want to say anything, but I feel

387

:

like for Catholic content creators,

like our purpose and our, uh, like

388

:

driving force behind what we're doing

is to help people have, like you said,

389

:

an in person experience with Jesus.

390

:

Like my hope that this is like

a practical way you can use it.

391

:

Like my hope is that like, you'll see.

392

:

A post in the Catholic Instagram

world that will linger with you and

393

:

inspire you to go sit in prayer and be

like, okay, Lord, like, what are you,

394

:

what do you want to say about this?

395

:

Like, why did this linger in my heart?

396

:

Why did this, you know, post about

suffering or joy or the Eucharist

397

:

or Mary's motherhood or whatever

it is that, you know, the post is

398

:

about, like, why did it linger?

399

:

What are you trying to draw me into?

400

:

And like, take it to your spiritual

life and let it bear fruit in your

401

:

spiritual life instead of letting

it be like any other trend that

402

:

you're seeing where you just scroll

past it and look to the next thing.

403

:

Um, so I think like we desire it to

have a little bit more intentionality

404

:

for a reason to make you stop, to

make you wonder, and in hopes that

405

:

you can draw something from it.

406

:

To the chapel and then let it bear

fruit in your heart instead of just let

407

:

it slide through like any other post

408

:

maclaine-noah_1_08-01-2024_091105: Right,

and that is a beautiful hope, and one that

409

:

I, I personally hope every creator has.

410

:

And that's where it gets tricky, is

that, You can't be responsible for

411

:

your followers vices or what they're

going to do with your content.

412

:

They, there's this individual

responsibility to practice moderation,

413

:

that's the other thing, like, we think

about, West Coast Catholic in your store,

414

:

your intention with that is to share the

gospel in a tangible way to bring these

415

:

beautiful sacramentals into the home.

416

:

However, maybe someone could see

your store and use it as a lack

417

:

of prudence or over consumption.

418

:

They're buying too much or

they're not buying and gifting

419

:

like everything is for them.

420

:

They're hoarding.

421

:

So, But you didn't create

the shop with that intention.

422

:

So that's the same thing

with creatives too.

423

:

Like, we can create this content in

hopes that people will take it to prayer.

424

:

And I do trust that a lot do.

425

:

But how many times have you found that?

426

:

a recipe and you hit the little

bookmark and you save it and

427

:

you've never looked at it

428

:

mari-wagner_1_08-01-2024_091105:

Okay, call me out, girl.

429

:

maclaine-noah_1_08-01-2024_091105:

And myself, I've so much, I have

430

:

a whole cookbook in my saved post

431

:

mari-wagner_1_08-01-2024_091105: Oh, same.

432

:

maclaine-noah_1_08-01-2024_091105:

together.

433

:

You know what I mean though?

434

:

So it's like we can have that

intention, but social media,

435

:

there's a new thing the next day.

436

:

So like, why do we need

what we saw yesterday?

437

:

mari-wagner_1_08-01-2024_091105: Uh huh.

438

:

maclaine-noah_1_08-01-2024_091105:

Um, slippery is that, you have to

439

:

have that personal responsibility.

440

:

It's not, you know, this creator's

fault that someone is overconsuming

441

:

social media, but the creator, in my

opinion, ought to have intentionality

442

:

and prayer behind what they're

doing so that they are not just

443

:

creating in order to hook someone.

444

:

mari-wagner_1_08-01-2024_091105:

Absolutely.

445

:

I think that's so necessary.

446

:

Um, especially when we're using

it as a tool to evangelize.

447

:

We want it to be the Lord's words and

His mission, not bringing glory to us.

448

:

Um, okay.

449

:

Let's try A little bit about let's

chat a little bit about, um, if,

450

:

yeah, if we are using social media

poorly, like, some of these effects,

451

:

um, it can affect our health, our

anxiety, depression, self esteem.

452

:

I think a lot of us have experienced

that to an extent in some

453

:

way, given, like you said, we.

454

:

Kind of are the generation that

grew up in this digital age and

455

:

people younger than us even more.

456

:

So I didn't have Instagram or, you

know, a smartphone till I was 15,

457

:

but, um, that's still pretty young.

458

:

And I know a lot of people who.

459

:

I mean, yeah, started when we

were in like fifth or sixth grade.

460

:

So it's been around at this point

for most of our lives for people

461

:

that are listening probably.

462

:

So what can some of

those effects look like?

463

:

Um, how can we kind of keep an eye out

for if it's affecting us in that way?

464

:

maclaine-noah_1_08-01-2024_091105: So

there was a:

465

:

out, and this is from McLean Hospital.

466

:

I did not do that on purpose.

467

:

I really didn't.

468

:

And it's not spelled the same way as my

name, but, um, they tied social media

469

:

use to decreased um, worse sleep, delayed

sleep, everything around sleep, which

470

:

we know we've heard with the screens

and the blue light and all of that.

471

:

That is just going to be that snowball

effect that's ultimately going to lead

472

:

to anxiety, depression, uh, potentially.

473

:

mari-wagner_1_08-01-2024_091105: Yeah.

474

:

Yeah.

475

:

maclaine-noah_1_08-01-2024_091105:

is going to, like, you know this too,

476

:

when we throw off our mental health.

477

:

Um, that can affect our gut and then our

gut health can affect our mental health.

478

:

And so it's just like this endless cycle

that, um, I think is pretty insidious.

479

:

And so we maybe see these effects and

we think, Oh, it's probably my diet.

480

:

Okay.

481

:

And then we don't change our social

media use or like, well, I didn't work

482

:

out enough, so I wasn't tired enough.

483

:

And that's why I didn't get to fall

asleep soon, soon enough in the night.

484

:

Um, I'm just going to scroll what

we, we try to, um, of come up with.

485

:

And of course both could be problems

in our personal health, but, um, social

486

:

media, yeah, it can really affect.

487

:

Our physical health, which then is

going to tumble into our mental health.

488

:

that would be my initial read.

489

:

But then, um, course we can get into

what each individual is kind of telling

490

:

themselves as they scroll on social media.

491

:

So whether that's like seeing

ballerina farm and it's like,

492

:

I'm never going to find.

493

:

I, what if I can't have Children?

494

:

What if I don't make enough

as that family makes?

495

:

Am I going to be happy?

496

:

So then we can get into the

mental spiral of, um, what seeing

497

:

social media does to our personal

thoughts and our personal value,

498

:

mari-wagner_1_08-01-2024_091105: Yeah.

499

:

And I think it's good to remember

that we're All body mind and soul.

500

:

And you kind of touched on this without

explicitly saying that, like, they're not

501

:

separate entities that do that are, that

are just like isolated from each other,

502

:

everything we do body, mind, soul somehow

informs the other and affects the other.

503

:

And so I know that like

maybe when I was in college.

504

:

Before I was a missionary, this

is something I learned like

505

:

as a missionary in college.

506

:

I was like, yeah, like the things

that I consume, the things that I

507

:

watch, like don't actually affect me

because like, I'm stronger than that.

508

:

Like I can be on social media.

509

:

I can follow all types of people on

social media, like all types of account.

510

:

It doesn't matter.

511

:

I can watch anything because like, I'm a

good Catholic and like, it's just I know

512

:

how to not let it affect me and that's

just naive and that's just not true.

513

:

Right.

514

:

And you start to see how the things you

see on social media or on TV or whatever

515

:

the people you follow, um, how I feel

like what I was noticing, like how it

516

:

informed my thoughts started to teach me.

517

:

Yeah, no, actually it, it clearly

did affect my mind, which then can

518

:

affect the desires of my soul, which

can affect how I'm living physically

519

:

in the world and affect my body.

520

:

Um, and so keeping that in mind too, that

like, it's all, it's all interconnected

521

:

and, um, we can't kid ourselves.

522

:

It's not going to affect

another part of our life.

523

:

maclaine-noah_1_08-01-2024_091105: right?

524

:

No, I think that's where.

525

:

Um, is going to creep in and not

to over spiritualize, but, and you

526

:

could, maybe we could just say our

littleness is going to creep in of like.

527

:

It's really not a big deal this

is like the largest the the

528

:

Technological change in history.

529

:

It just completely spiked when we hit that

21st century There was an unprecedented

530

:

technological advance that happened.

531

:

And so it is important.

532

:

know this will affect my life.

533

:

This will affect my relationship

with God and my Catholic identity.

534

:

I think you were asking like,

how does poor use of social

535

:

media affect our mental health?

536

:

What about like our health as a Catholic?

537

:

Like.

538

:

media and Catholic social media,

we cannot say is for everyone.

539

:

We cannot say you should be there.

540

:

You have to be on it.

541

:

Like that's where you need to be.

542

:

No, no, no.

543

:

There are some people who I definitely

feel like should be on it and

544

:

should be consuming and creating it.

545

:

Um, but it's not for everyone or

else monks would be way out of whack

546

:

and not on it Okay, think of, the

social media or just Instagram realm

547

:

as this like digital diocese that

has no one really like in charge.

548

:

There's no like bishop of the

digital world, you know what I mean?

549

:

No

550

:

mari-wagner_1_08-01-2024_091105: Wow.

551

:

maclaine-noah_1_08-01-2024_091105:

calling the shots, keeping people in line

552

:

with church teaching and fact checking

things according to the catechism.

553

:

It is free reign.

554

:

And so,

555

:

mari-wagner_1_08-01-2024_091105: Yeah.

556

:

maclaine-noah_1_08-01-2024_091105:

Catholic on social media, you're going

557

:

to be getting content about that.

558

:

everything Catholic.

559

:

And some of those things might be

false, not on purpose, but we're not

560

:

church fathers, we're not theologians.

561

:

We're doing our best and

like sharing our testimony.

562

:

Um, but some people will

take things as writing.

563

:

Mari is Catholic.

564

:

And so what she said

about this topic is what

565

:

mari-wagner_1_08-01-2024_091105: Sure.

566

:

maclaine-noah_1_08-01-2024_091105:

believes,

567

:

mari-wagner_1_08-01-2024_091105: Uh huh.

568

:

maclaine-noah_1_08-01-2024_091105:

which is where it can get really tricky.

569

:

Yes.

570

:

mari-wagner_1_08-01-2024_091105: which I

like that you brought that up because as

571

:

a consumer, hopefully that like opens our

eyes a little bit more to use the Catholic

572

:

social media well, which we'll get into

in a second where it's like, okay, I can

573

:

draw inspiration from these creators.

574

:

I can learn from their testimonies,

but like, get to know your own faith.

575

:

Don't allow like the creator

to become the catechism.

576

:

You know what I mean?

577

:

Like the creator.

578

:

Isn't the church teaching isn't

like the law isn't the catechism.

579

:

They might have drawn from it.

580

:

We hope so.

581

:

But at the same time, like form

your own soul, form your own mind

582

:

and your faith and let that be the

starting point that inspires it.

583

:

But don't let it be the end.

584

:

Don't let it be like the

resource you're drawing from.

585

:

Um, yeah, so great.

586

:

maclaine-noah_1_08-01-2024_091105:

Yeah, love it.

587

:

mari-wagner_1_08-01-2024_091105:

Well, it's a great point.

588

:

maclaine-noah_1_08-01-2024_091105: Yeah.

589

:

mari-wagner_1_08-01-2024_091105: Um,

how let's turn the narrative around.

590

:

Let's talk about like, how

can someone have a better

591

:

relationship with social media?

592

:

We've all experienced

these negative effects.

593

:

And like you said, social media might

be great for some, some might recognize,

594

:

like, it's actually not good for my

life, but I think there's a happy

595

:

medium for a lot of us where like, we

can learn to use it well as a tool.

596

:

We can learn to grow in moderation.

597

:

Um, how Can someone have a better

relationship with social media?

598

:

What are some healthy habits, some

healthy boundaries that individuals

599

:

can implement, uh, with social media?

600

:

maclaine-noah_1_08-01-2024_091105:

Making intentional decisions.

601

:

Like, when you are making a decision,

having, having that conscious choice

602

:

behind it, and knowing, okay, I am,

I am choosing the, I don't know,

603

:

the Ollipop instead of the Diet Coke

because there's no aspartame in it.

604

:

Um, like, we're doing that intentionally.

605

:

Um, and so the same can

go with social media.

606

:

So, when we feel more, um, in tune and

in control of our use of social media,

607

:

that's when it can really flourish.

608

:

there are a million ways to have a

good relationship with social media.

609

:

That's the cool thing.

610

:

You can invite Jesus into it and say, I

really don't want to scroll for too long.

611

:

Could you please, like, I don't

know, bring someone into my life

612

:

that'll help me live more presently.

613

:

Could you, um, like bring me into more

habits and then something, not just

614

:

waiting for God to, you know, do it for

you, but, I would say my first thing

615

:

is going to be going to confession.

616

:

I think a lot of.

617

:

examinations need to start

including overuse of media.

618

:

Whether that's YouTube and it's

like, okay, well I'm Facebook.

619

:

Watching YouTube for hours and hours

or having it on your entire workday.

620

:

You have that autoplay on and

it's always in the background.

621

:

need to start confessing to it's

like split, um, attention or really

622

:

not being present to the tasks that

we've been given by God, um, or

623

:

overuse or addiction of social media.

624

:

Confess it in the confessional,

ask your priest, what can I do?

625

:

And overall, when you're

going to be growing in virtue.

626

:

This is going to be not as big of an issue

because you're getting closer to Christ.

627

:

And so that should also affect any

other like addictive tendencies or

628

:

habitual vice you, um, see in yourself.

629

:

So it, pray about it.

630

:

Um, receive from your Bible before

you're receiving from Catholic Instagram.

631

:

up a Bible first.

632

:

This is so hard for me.

633

:

Um, with like nursing, it's so much

easier for me to have one hand than two.

634

:

And that's the first thing

that I do when I wake up.

635

:

And so, um, yeah, receiving from God,

the Eucharist, Jesus, the mass, the

636

:

physical, tangible sacramentals are

infinitely better than any photo of.

637

:

That's sacramental or a

recounting of a mass experience.

638

:

And so receiving from the incarnate

God first, then going to social media.

639

:

Um, I think, yeah, we

talked about a detox.

640

:

If there are people that you don't,

that you know, like you tend to

641

:

scroll a lot on their page, or you're

really intrigued with them in an

642

:

unhealthy way, or in a way that.

643

:

start to tell yourself negative

things about your life.

644

:

Um, stop following them.

645

:

Doesn't matter if it's a friend or

an influencer, stop following them.

646

:

It's not a big deal.

647

:

Um, I think, uh, a couple apps that

are in place, there's one called

648

:

clear space, which, um, helps you

with time limits and intentionality.

649

:

Um, there are the.

650

:

In system, um, time, time

restrictions that you can like

651

:

put the iPhone itself has,

652

:

mari-wagner_1_08-01-2024_091105: Yeah.

653

:

maclaine-noah_1_08-01-2024_091105:

the time limits, and make

654

:

sure you don't override them.

655

:

I have an hour time limit on my

Instagram my husband set my passcode.

656

:

still, to this day, do

not know that passcode.

657

:

So I have to go to him, a physical person

and say, Hey, I did run out of time.

658

:

I did want to post this one more

thing, or maybe I ran out of time

659

:

because I was editing this reel

for about 20 minutes on Instagram.

660

:

you put like 10 more minutes on it?

661

:

And so you're interacting with someone

who has your sainthood in mind, whether

662

:

that's a friend, family member, spouse.

663

:

Um, yeah, those are the

first that come to mind.

664

:

Watch the social dilemma.

665

:

Like you, it's not necessary.

666

:

I won't say it's necessary.

667

:

But in some way researching what

social media does to people,

668

:

because it's different from any

other form of technology where like

669

:

the book is a form of technology.

670

:

It made information easier to access.

671

:

And I, I know that the book, when it

was introduced and written word was

672

:

like, Oh my gosh, people are going

to be have their heads in books.

673

:

And they're not going to be

interacting with society.

674

:

Compared to now, it's like,

my gosh, a book is so holy.

675

:

Like you're reading a

book that is amazing.

676

:

Um, so if we don't see, um, and become

sober and awake to the effects of social

677

:

media, then it's going to be a lot easier

to just brush it off as what society does.

678

:

And we all just scroll while

we're with each other now.

679

:

So let's keep doing it.

680

:

mari-wagner_1_08-01-2024_091105: Yeah.

681

:

maclaine-noah_1_08-01-2024_091105:

So I hope those are helpful.

682

:

mari-wagner_1_08-01-2024_091105: They

were, yeah, I think what I really

683

:

love that you said were kind of like,

sometimes we, like I said, we need to

684

:

like, just not be naive about where we're

at and like, not kid ourselves and like

685

:

those, like, physical blockers, like

are good, like, to actually like, put.

686

:

A time limit on your phone.

687

:

And if you need someone to hold you

accountable and have a passcode, great.

688

:

That's what makes it easy.

689

:

You know, like I said earlier about like,

if I've given up social media for lunch

690

:

or if I'm fasting for it, like I'll,

I'll often just leave the app there.

691

:

Cause I'm like, Oh, it's fine.

692

:

I won't open it.

693

:

But it's like, clearly.

694

:

We're not at that place yet.

695

:

Clearly like we need the extra step

of removing the app of setting a

696

:

time limit of having accountability

with a friend or a spouse.

697

:

Um, and that's okay.

698

:

I wouldn't say that's

something to feel bad about.

699

:

It's like, we're all, we all were kind

of just like put in this situation

700

:

because this is the time we grew up in.

701

:

And so, um, I wouldn't say like it's

necessarily our fault that we got

702

:

here, but it is our responsibility

to acknowledge like anything in

703

:

our life that we aren't using in

moderation because we're all trying

704

:

to live Christ centered lives.

705

:

And so this goes for anything that you

feel like is becoming a vice of some sort.

706

:

Like it's okay to have

really strong boundaries.

707

:

It's okay to have accountability and have

a friend kind of walk with you in that.

708

:

And it's really good.

709

:

Um, the other thing I was going to

say too, that I find helpful is kind

710

:

of having a standard in your life.

711

:

This is what I try to do of like, I

won't pick up my phone first thing in

712

:

the morning and it won't be like the

last thing that I see when I go to bed

713

:

maclaine-noah_1_08-01-2024_091105: Yeah.

714

:

mari-wagner_1_08-01-2024_091105:

that having that mentality every day.

715

:

Helps you realize how much you reach

for it and kind of helps you have kind

716

:

of like that self check of like Why

am I rolling over and grabbing this?

717

:

Okay, maybe like let's not sleep

with our phone next to our head

718

:

Which already is pretty bad for you.

719

:

So like let's put it on the other side

outside the room, you know And then just

720

:

doing that makes it so it's also not the

last thing you do before bed and we're

721

:

not stuck in like a scroll before bed and

having blue light affect our circadian

722

:

rhythm and Hormones and other things.

723

:

Um, and so replace that

with a short prayer.

724

:

Like when you get up, instead of reaching

for your phone, have that initial like

725

:

desire to reach now that you've heard

this, hopefully you can't forget it.

726

:

Um, you just remember like, Okay.

727

:

I'm reaching for something.

728

:

Like, let me reach for the Lord.

729

:

And it doesn't have to be a

big 30 minute prayer time.

730

:

Like just let it be like a quick

morning offering of like, Lord, thank

731

:

you for the rest that you gave me.

732

:

Like I give this day to you.

733

:

I entrust it to you.

734

:

And like, may your will be done.

735

:

And before you go to bed, instead of like

falling asleep as you're scrolling, like.

736

:

If you feel like you need to

reach for something again, reach

737

:

for the Lord, give him thanks for

the day and ask for good rest.

738

:

Um, and so I feel like

that's a good standard.

739

:

I will say, I feel like we should all

have, we should all work towards having

740

:

the Lord, um, have our first and last

moments of the day instead of our device.

741

:

maclaine-noah_1_08-01-2024_091105:

Absolutely.

742

:

Yeah.

743

:

Because imagine if, if we see ourselves

as, Catholic creators or, um, consumers

744

:

on social media, the disciples going out

kind of before they chatted with Jesus as

745

:

they were camping and traveling together.

746

:

they just like went and evangelized

and came back and were like,

747

:

Oh my gosh, I didn't even know

that you were here, Jesus.

748

:

Like, I just did all this stuff for you.

749

:

And he's like, why weren't you with me?

750

:

You know what I mean?

751

:

So can, we can do that same thing.

752

:

Like we go out and we're doing, doing,

doing, and we create so much for Jesus

753

:

and do not even rest with him in any way.

754

:

So that you added that.

755

:

mari-wagner_1_08-01-2024_091105: Yeah.

756

:

Um, last thing you did mention the

examination of, or no, you mentioned

757

:

bringing this into confession and I know

you made an examination of conscience

758

:

for media use, um, a few years ago.

759

:

Tell us more about that.

760

:

maclaine-noah_1_08-01-2024_091105: Yes.

761

:

So I created this with, um, a friend

Mackenzie, who, was a missionary at the

762

:

same time as I was, and we were talking

about this topic a lot and it was really.

763

:

You've alluded to this, but

we are really trailblazing.

764

:

We think, okay, social media has

been around for a minute, but

765

:

I mean, 20 years is really not

where everyone is trailblazing.

766

:

Everyone's figuring out what media does.

767

:

We can see some of the effects,

but nothing like What we see to

768

:

be the effect of the television,

which was introduced longer ago.

769

:

So we're still learning a lot of things.

770

:

so we're talking about that and, um,

we desire to have, um, a very deep,

771

:

detailed examine about social media.

772

:

And so it's in three parts.

773

:

Um, because there are different questions

that creatives creators should be asking.

774

:

So people who are putting out content,

people who are consuming content, then

775

:

everyone who is just kind of, Using

and on social media in any generic way.

776

:

Um, because they do overlap and,

um, pretty much all creators are

777

:

going to be consumers, but not

all consumers will be creating.

778

:

So, um, there are many questions.

779

:

It's pinned onto my Instagram

profile, a Catholic combo.

780

:

It's the first post and,

um, it's pretty vintage.

781

:

Like it w we made it a little bit ago.

782

:

Um, But it has been super helpful

for so many people to ask themselves

783

:

questions and to ask Jesus questions

that they've never considered media, even

784

:

coming into the realm of or affecting.

785

:

So.

786

:

Um, yeah, hopefully it's just a

good tool that you can use and,

787

:

um, share it with whoever you want.

788

:

Um, it should be really helpful.

789

:

mari-wagner_1_08-01-2024_091105:

Yeah, I'm going to go back and

790

:

read it because it's so good.

791

:

Okay.

792

:

Anything else that you want to share

with our listeners before we wrap up?

793

:

maclaine-noah_1_08-01-2024_091105:

Um, I think, I think sometimes when

794

:

I, I love, love, love talking about

this topic, like if I were to write

795

:

a book, it would be about this topic

because it is so important to me.

796

:

And especially now that I'm raising.

797

:

I just think about where social media

will be when he starts using it.

798

:

Um, and so I think sometimes it can

feel like, oh, it's a ton of, you know,

799

:

boomers and millennials that are anti

social media and they want the kids to

800

:

get off their phones and all this stuff.

801

:

there is a huge movement in Gen Z.

802

:

Um, the log off movement also

is one that I wanted to mention.

803

:

Of people and young adults in our

generation, realizing that they

804

:

want the incarnate experience.

805

:

And even if it's Catholic, we're

not even talking about that.

806

:

are recognizing this is not.

807

:

As fruitful and as joyful as the

influencer experiencing it in real time

808

:

of what I'm looking at on social media.

809

:

Does that make sense?

810

:

mari-wagner_1_08-01-2024_091105:

Yeah, like living through the

811

:

influencer you love to follow versus

actually living life yourself.

812

:

maclaine-noah_1_08-01-2024_091105:

Exactly.

813

:

Yep.

814

:

And so I am perfectly content being

the annoying, uh, like old Gen Z.

815

:

I am the oldest Gen Zer that

exists because I'm born in 97.

816

:

Um, I'm content being that person and

saying, Hey, this is going to affect us

817

:

for generations, what if we just did it a

little more intentionally and also there

818

:

can be so much good that comes from it.

819

:

So I don't want it to sound like this

doom and gloom message of social media,

820

:

but I do think that we're not super, um,

awake to what happen with social media

821

:

if we're striving for sainthood, then.

822

:

Knowing that information, I do find it

our responsibility and duty to help people

823

:

get to heaven and therefore bringing

up things that are roadblocks to that,

824

:

into that relationship with Christ.

825

:

And this is a huge one.

826

:

That's very.

827

:

Slight and very, um, sneaky because

it doesn't feel bad, especially when

828

:

you're only consuming Catholic content.

829

:

So, just maybe asking yourself, like,

if you feel, uh, You know, more joyful

830

:

or more known and seen, um, creating or

consuming Catholic content online than

831

:

you do in person, because the minute that

we lose our love and adoration for the

832

:

mass and for that, Repetition over and

over ever ancient, ever new experience.

833

:

Um, and we prefer graphics every

day of scripture and here's a new

834

:

monstrance and here's a new video and

dah, dah, dah, dah, that Catholicism.

835

:

Then we're really in a deep and we

need Jesus to completely destroy

836

:

like that desire that we have to

see him digitally versus person.

837

:

So, um, there's a lot to chew on, but.

838

:

I love social media.

839

:

mari-wagner_1_08-01-2024_091105:

Ends with I love social media.

840

:

And you know, that's just the

essence of this whole conversation.

841

:

It's a very powerful conversation.

842

:

One that I think not

many people are having.

843

:

And so I'm glad that we are having it.

844

:

It needs to be had.

845

:

Um, it's.

846

:

Almost just like you, you can tell

me really mean it because like,

847

:

we're both content creators on

Instagram and like generally a

848

:

content creator probably wouldn't

tell you get off your phone, right?

849

:

Like they would want you to consume

their stuff, but we genuinely

850

:

care about your statehood and

your relationship with Christ.

851

:

And that comes before anything you consume

on Instagram, even if it's Catholic.

852

:

So ultimately I think what we want

people to walk away with is like,

853

:

yes, social media inherently, like,

doesn't have to be a bad thing.

854

:

It's kind of like the way we are using it.

855

:

Is it using us?

856

:

Are we using it?

857

:

How can we learn to really like

render it as a tool in our life and

858

:

let it go and let it be what it is.

859

:

It's just an app on our phone.

860

:

Like it doesn't have to be more than that.

861

:

We don't have to make it

more than it really is.

862

:

So hopefully this is

an invitation for you.

863

:

For all of us to really rearrange

our relationship with social media,

864

:

hopefully, and build some health,

healthier habits and allow it to be the

865

:

good tool and place of connection that

we have experienced it to be at times.

866

:

Um, and that I think that it

can truly has the power to be.

867

:

Um, so before we close out, uh, where

can our listeners learn more about you?

868

:

maclaine-noah_1_08-01-2024_091105:

Um, definitely on Instagram.

869

:

My handle is a Catholic Convo

um, That's pretty much it.

870

:

My, my website is a little bit of a

museum, so you can find a couple blog

871

:

posts on there, but I'm really focused

on my motherhood, uh, in this season.

872

:

So find me on Instagram.

873

:

I'll chat with you about

social media anytime.

874

:

Um, send me any voice memos or

questions that you have in my DMs,

875

:

and I would love to hear from you.

876

:

Speak into more of this topic if you want.

877

:

mari-wagner_1_08-01-2024_091105: Yes.

878

:

Oh, well, so good.

879

:

Thank you, Matt, for coming on today.

880

:

It was so good to have you.

881

:

maclaine-noah_1_08-01-2024_091105:

Thanks Mari.

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About the Podcast

Ever Be
A faith and lifestyle podcast.
The Ever Be Podcast is a faith and lifestyle podcast filled with meaningful conversations and practical tips that will inspire and empower you to live a Christ centered life in today’s modern world. Through her own experience of surrendering completely to God and finding true fullness of life, your host Mari Wagner, has committed to having God’s praise “ever be” on her lips and sharing that message with the world. Listen in for insightful, real life conversations and actionable steps on how to claim the full life God created you for.

With over 100K followers and counting, Instagram content creator and founder of the popular Catholic lifestyle brand, West Coast Catholic, Mari Wagner is showing the world how to live a bold, attractive, and fulfilling Catholic life by being in the world but not of it. On the podcast you’ll get a combination of heartfelt solo episodes with Mari, interviews with exciting guests, and up-close and personal time with both the Wagner’s—Mari and Trey. What more could you ask for?!

Finally! Answers to questions you’ve been asking like:
How do I infuse prayer into my daily life? How do I live out my Catholic faith? What is the best dating and marriage advice? What does a good Catholic marriage look like? How do I grow in homemaking skills and build a domestic church? How do I create a beautiful and welcoming home? What does a healthy and balanced lifestyle look like? Is it possible to find a solid community of like minded women?

Host Mari Wagner covers topics that you actually care about from faith life, to relationships and marriage, to homemaking, to healthy living. Each episode is crafted to resonate with your challenges and aspirations as a modern Christian woman seeking purpose, balance, and joy.

Tune into the Ever Be Podcast for valuable advice, relatable stories, expert insights and just some fun girl chats with someone who really gets you. Hit play to get out of the rut you constantly feel yourself in, and subscribe to join the community and experience the fullness of life Jesus has in store for you.

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Mari Wagner