26: Identifying & Combating Social Media Addiction | Maclaine Noah

Speaker: 00:00:06

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

285

: 00:18:28

calms down our baby boy is the song

Edelweiss from The Sound of Music.

286

: 00:18:35

And it is a short song with

very few words, and so we're

287

: 00:18:39

singing that daily over and over.

288

: 00:18:41

That gets stuck in my head.

289

: 00:18:43

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

thing and just our brains that things

290

: 00:18:48

are going to get stuck in our head.

291

: 00:18:50

But there's a difference like that got

stuck in my head because I was caring

292

: 00:18:53

for my son and trying to console him

with a song versus, um, scrolling 20

293

: 00:19:00

times and I'm seeing that audio over

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

294

: 00:19:05

getting off of social media and so

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

295

: 00:19:09

There

296

: 00:19:09

mari-wagner_1_08-01-2024_091105: Yeah,

297

: 00:19:10

maclaine-noah_1_08-01-2024_091105:

difference.

298

: 00:19:11

It's

299

: 00:19:11

mari-wagner_1_08-01-2024_091105: totally.

300

: 00:19:12

I

301

: 00:19:13

maclaine-noah_1_08-01-2024_091105: head.

302

: 00:19:17

mari-wagner_1_08-01-2024_091105: want

to circle back to the conversation

303

: 00:19:18

of, uh, the Catholic social media

world that we touched on a little bit.

304

: 00:19:23

Um, we both, like we said earlier, see

so much goodness in beauty and power

305

: 00:19:28

in evangelizing through social media

as that's where our generation is at.

306

: 00:19:33

But I want to talk a little bit

about like, what are the ways

307

: 00:19:36

that we feel like It's helpful.

308

: 00:19:39

What are the ways that maybe

the way we're using social

309

: 00:19:41

media makes this world harmful?

310

: 00:19:44

How can we be aware of that?

311

: 00:19:45

How can we make sure that like

we're approaching this, um, maybe

312

: 00:19:49

as creators, like in a healthy way.

313

: 00:19:51

And then as, as users, as people consuming

the content on the other side, which I'm

314

: 00:19:55

sure is the majority of listeners, um,

how can we consume this in a healthy way?

315

: 00:20:02

maclaine-noah_1_08-01-2024_091105: Yes,

I think there are a lot of helpful things

316

: 00:20:05

about social media and we can list off

a million because the church has urged

317

: 00:20:12

us into this new evangelization and

that includes in the digital world.

318

: 00:20:18

Like we go, the church

has always gone where.

319

: 00:20:21

Her people are, and so

we will go to Instagram.

320

: 00:20:26

I will go to Instagram and evangelize

if people are there and they are.

321

: 00:20:31

Um, I think on Pew research, it says

69 percent of adults and 81 percent

322

: 00:20:37

of teens are social media users.

323

: 00:20:39

So it's continuing, continuing

to climb and, um, we really want

324

: 00:20:46

to meet them where they are.

325

: 00:20:47

And so in that way.

326

: 00:20:49

Social media is so helpful

because you think of conference.

327

: 00:20:54

We were both just at the

national Eucharistic Congress.

328

: 00:20:58

Um, what if, you know, monstrance was

in their explore page, a user's explore

329

: 00:21:06

page that has never seen a monstrance.

330

: 00:21:08

They have no idea what that is.

331

: 00:21:10

don't know who Jesus is and

they see it for the first time.

332

: 00:21:14

That was a way that God could.

333

: 00:21:18

of come into their life, but it has to

be that starting point that would launch

334

: 00:21:23

into in person incarnational relationship

because Jesus if social media was

335

: 00:21:31

necessary for a relationship with Christ

or Necessary for evangelization, then

336

: 00:21:36

he would have come with a smartphone.

337

: 00:21:38

Do you know what I mean?

338

: 00:21:39

And like he would have

come with a Facebook page

339

: 00:21:42

mari-wagner_1_08-01-2024_091105:

You're right.

340

: 00:21:42

I've never thought about it that way.

341

: 00:21:44

Yeah,

342

: 00:21:45

maclaine-noah_1_08-01-2024_091105:

have come verified.

343

: 00:21:46

He would have had the blue check and he

344

: 00:21:48

mari-wagner_1_08-01-2024_091105:

he was the biggest influencer.

345

: 00:21:51

He was, but

346

: 00:21:52

maclaine-noah_1_08-01-2024_091105:

Exactly.

347

: 00:21:53

Yes.

348

: 00:21:54

so that tells us that it's not necessary.

349

: 00:21:58

What Jesus did use were new

words, new teachings that linked

350

: 00:22:03

back to the old Testament.

351

: 00:22:06

He presented teachings in new

ways that we could understand.

352

: 00:22:10

He loved people in a very different.

353

: 00:22:13

Culturally groundbreaking way.

354

: 00:22:16

um, used new means of evangelization.

355

: 00:22:22

And so that's why the church says

technology is a tool that we can use.

356

: 00:22:28

But like you said, in the beginning of

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

357

: 00:22:35

Render technology to our, uh, use and

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

358

: 00:22:42

Have you seen, um, the social dilemma,

359

: 00:22:46

mari-wagner_1_08-01-2024_091105:

I actually haven't when it came

360

: 00:22:48

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

361

: 00:22:51

Like I had, this is going

to make me get off my phone.

362

: 00:22:54

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

I literally haven't seen it.

363

: 00:22:59

maclaine-noah_1_08-01-2024_091105:

my gosh.

364

: 00:22:59

Okay.

365

: 00:23:00

There's a beautiful quote, beautiful.

366

: 00:23:02

LOL.

367

: 00:23:03

a helpful quote, um, in the movie.

368

: 00:23:07

I forget who it's attributed to,

but it says, um, The only two types

369

: 00:23:12

of goods that consider their, um,

audience to be users are the drug

370

: 00:23:20

industry and the social media industry.

371

: 00:23:23

No one else is a user.

372

: 00:23:27

Like, and so even that language is going

to indicate The fact that, like, we are

373

: 00:23:35

being taken advantage of to some extent.

374

: 00:23:39

Our time is what social media is buying

and taking from us and using of us.

375

: 00:23:46

and our attention.

376

: 00:23:47

Our time and attention.

377

: 00:23:49

Um, you have to watch this movie.

378

: 00:23:51

It's so good, Mari.

379

: 00:23:53

mari-wagner_1_08-01-2024_091105:

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

380

: 00:23:56

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

381

: 00:23:56

With Trey.

382

: 00:23:57

Do it with Trey.

383

: 00:23:58

It'll be great.

384

: 00:23:59

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

385

: 00:24:01

. And one thing I was going to say too,

is we can probably both say a little

386

: 00:24:06

bit about this too, if you feel like

you want to say anything, but I feel

387

: 00:24:09

like for Catholic content creators,

like our purpose and our, uh, like

388

: 00:24:15

driving force behind what we're doing

is to help people have, like you said,

389

: 00:24:21

an in person experience with Jesus.

390

: 00:24:24

Like my hope that this is like

a practical way you can use it.

391

: 00:24:29

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

392

: 00:24:31

A post in the Catholic Instagram

world that will linger with you and

393

: 00:24:35

inspire you to go sit in prayer and be

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

394

: 00:24:40

what do you want to say about this?

395

: 00:24:41

Like, why did this linger in my heart?

396

: 00:24:44

Why did this, you know, post about

suffering or joy or the Eucharist

397

: 00:24:49

or Mary's motherhood or whatever

it is that, you know, the post is

398

: 00:24:52

about, like, why did it linger?

399

: 00:24:54

What are you trying to draw me into?

400

: 00:24:56

And like, take it to your spiritual

life and let it bear fruit in your

401

: 00:24:59

spiritual life instead of letting

it be like any other trend that

402

: 00:25:04

you're seeing where you just scroll

past it and look to the next thing.

403

: 00:25:08

Um, so I think like we desire it to

have a little bit more intentionality

404

: 00:25:13

for a reason to make you stop, to

make you wonder, and in hopes that

405

: 00:25:18

you can draw something from it.

406

: 00:25:20

To the chapel and then let it bear

fruit in your heart instead of just let

407

: 00:25:24

it slide through like any other post

408

: 00:25:28

maclaine-noah_1_08-01-2024_091105: Right,

and that is a beautiful hope, and one that

409

: 00:25:31

I, I personally hope every creator has.

410

: 00:25:37

And that's where it gets tricky, is

that, You can't be responsible for

411

: 00:25:43

your followers vices or what they're

going to do with your content.

412

: 00:25:49

They, there's this individual

responsibility to practice moderation,

413

: 00:25:55

that's the other thing, like, we think

about, West Coast Catholic in your store,

414

: 00:26:01

your intention with that is to share the

gospel in a tangible way to bring these

415

: 00:26:07

beautiful sacramentals into the home.

416

: 00:26:11

However, maybe someone could see

your store and use it as a lack

417

: 00:26:17

of prudence or over consumption.

418

: 00:26:20

They're buying too much or

they're not buying and gifting

419

: 00:26:24

like everything is for them.

420

: 00:26:25

They're hoarding.

421

: 00:26:26

So, But you didn't create

the shop with that intention.

422

: 00:26:30

So that's the same thing

with creatives too.

423

: 00:26:33

Like, we can create this content in

hopes that people will take it to prayer.

424

: 00:26:38

And I do trust that a lot do.

425

: 00:26:41

But how many times have you found that?

426

: 00:26:44

a recipe and you hit the little

bookmark and you save it and

427

: 00:26:48

you've never looked at it

428

: 00:26:50

mari-wagner_1_08-01-2024_091105:

Okay, call me out, girl.

429

: 00:26:54

maclaine-noah_1_08-01-2024_091105:

And myself, I've so much, I have

430

: 00:26:56

a whole cookbook in my saved post

431

: 00:26:59

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

432

: 00:27:01

maclaine-noah_1_08-01-2024_091105:

together.

433

: 00:27:01

You know what I mean though?

434

: 00:27:02

So it's like we can have that

intention, but social media,

435

: 00:27:05

there's a new thing the next day.

436

: 00:27:07

So like, why do we need

what we saw yesterday?

437

: 00:27:10

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

438

: 00:27:12

maclaine-noah_1_08-01-2024_091105:

Um, slippery is that, you have to

439

: 00:27:15

have that personal responsibility.

440

: 00:27:17

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

fault that someone is overconsuming

441

: 00:27:22

social media, but the creator, in my

opinion, ought to have intentionality

442

: 00:27:30

and prayer behind what they're

doing so that they are not just

443

: 00:27:34

creating in order to hook someone.

444

: 00:27:37

mari-wagner_1_08-01-2024_091105:

Absolutely.

445

: 00:27:38

I think that's so necessary.

446

: 00:27:41

Um, especially when we're using

it as a tool to evangelize.

447

: 00:27:45

We want it to be the Lord's words and

His mission, not bringing glory to us.

448

: 00:27:51

Um, okay.

449

: 00:27:52

Let's try A little bit about let's

chat a little bit about, um, if,

450

: 00:27:58

yeah, if we are using social media

poorly, like, some of these effects,

451

: 00:28:03

um, it can affect our health, our

anxiety, depression, self esteem.

452

: 00:28:08

I think a lot of us have experienced

that to an extent in some

453

: 00:28:11

way, given, like you said, we.

454

: 00:28:13

Kind of are the generation that

grew up in this digital age and

455

: 00:28:17

people younger than us even more.

456

: 00:28:18

So I didn't have Instagram or, you

know, a smartphone till I was 15,

457

: 00:28:23

but, um, that's still pretty young.

458

: 00:28:25

And I know a lot of people who.

459

: 00:28:28

I mean, yeah, started when we

were in like fifth or sixth grade.

460

: 00:28:32

So it's been around at this point

for most of our lives for people

461

: 00:28:36

that are listening probably.

462

: 00:28:38

So what can some of

those effects look like?

463

: 00:28:41

Um, how can we kind of keep an eye out

for if it's affecting us in that way?

464

: 00:28:47

maclaine-noah_1_08-01-2024_091105: So

there was a: 2018

465

: 00:28:51

out, and this is from McLean Hospital.

466

: 00:28:54

I did not do that on purpose.

467

: 00:28:56

I really didn't.

468

: 00:28:57

And it's not spelled the same way as my

name, but, um, they tied social media

469

: 00:29:03

use to decreased um, worse sleep, delayed

sleep, everything around sleep, which

470

: 00:29:11

we know we've heard with the screens

and the blue light and all of that.

471

: 00:29:16

That is just going to be that snowball

effect that's ultimately going to lead

472

: 00:29:22

to anxiety, depression, uh, potentially.

473

: 00:29:26

mari-wagner_1_08-01-2024_091105: Yeah.

474

: 00:29:27

Yeah.

475

: 00:29:31

maclaine-noah_1_08-01-2024_091105:

is going to, like, you know this too,

476

: 00:29:35

when we throw off our mental health.

477

: 00:29:38

Um, that can affect our gut and then our

gut health can affect our mental health.

478

: 00:29:42

And so it's just like this endless cycle

that, um, I think is pretty insidious.

479

: 00:29:48

And so we maybe see these effects and

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

480

: 00:29:53

Okay.

481

: 00:29:54

And then we don't change our social

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

482

: 00:29:59

out enough, so I wasn't tired enough.

483

: 00:30:01

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

asleep soon, soon enough in the night.

484

: 00:30:06

Um, I'm just going to scroll what

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

485

: 00:30:14

And of course both could be problems

in our personal health, but, um, social

486

: 00:30:21

media, yeah, it can really affect.

487

: 00:30:24

Our physical health, which then is

going to tumble into our mental health.

488

: 00:30:29

that would be my initial read.

489

: 00:30:32

But then, um, course we can get into

what each individual is kind of telling

490

: 00:30:38

themselves as they scroll on social media.

491

: 00:30:41

So whether that's like seeing

ballerina farm and it's like,

492

: 00:30:45

I'm never going to find.

493

: 00:30:48

I, what if I can't have Children?

494

: 00:30:50

What if I don't make enough

as that family makes?

495

: 00:30:53

Am I going to be happy?

496

: 00:30:55

So then we can get into the

mental spiral of, um, what seeing

497

: 00:31:00

social media does to our personal

thoughts and our personal value,

498

: 00:31:08

mari-wagner_1_08-01-2024_091105: Yeah.

499

: 00:31:08

And I think it's good to remember

that we're All body mind and soul.

500

: 00:31:13

And you kind of touched on this without

explicitly saying that, like, they're not

501

: 00:31:17

separate entities that do that are, that

are just like isolated from each other,

502

: 00:31:22

everything we do body, mind, soul somehow

informs the other and affects the other.

503

: 00:31:27

And so I know that like

maybe when I was in college.

504

: 00:31:31

Before I was a missionary, this

is something I learned like

505

: 00:31:33

as a missionary in college.

506

: 00:31:35

I was like, yeah, like the things

that I consume, the things that I

507

: 00:31:37

watch, like don't actually affect me

because like, I'm stronger than that.

508

: 00:31:41

Like I can be on social media.

509

: 00:31:43

I can follow all types of people on

social media, like all types of account.

510

: 00:31:46

It doesn't matter.

511

: 00:31:46

I can watch anything because like, I'm a

good Catholic and like, it's just I know

512

: 00:31:50

how to not let it affect me and that's

just naive and that's just not true.

513

: 00:31:54

Right.

514

: 00:31:55

And you start to see how the things you

see on social media or on TV or whatever

515

: 00:31:59

the people you follow, um, how I feel

like what I was noticing, like how it

516

: 00:32:04

informed my thoughts started to teach me.

517

: 00:32:07

Yeah, no, actually it, it clearly

did affect my mind, which then can

518

: 00:32:11

affect the desires of my soul, which

can affect how I'm living physically

519

: 00:32:15

in the world and affect my body.

520

: 00:32:17

Um, and so keeping that in mind too, that

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

521

: 00:32:23

and, um, we can't kid ourselves.

522

: 00:32:25

It's not going to affect

another part of our life.

523

: 00:32:29

maclaine-noah_1_08-01-2024_091105: right?

524

: 00:32:30

No, I think that's where.

525

: 00:32:32

Um, is going to creep in and not

to over spiritualize, but, and you

526

: 00:32:37

could, maybe we could just say our

littleness is going to creep in of like.

527

: 00:32:42

It's really not a big deal this

is like the largest the the

528

: 00:32:49

Technological change in history.

529

: 00:32:51

It just completely spiked when we hit that

21st century There was an unprecedented

530

: 00:32:57

technological advance that happened.

531

: 00:33:00

And so it is important.

532

: 00:33:03

know this will affect my life.

533

: 00:33:05

This will affect my relationship

with God and my Catholic identity.

534

: 00:33:10

I think you were asking like,

how does poor use of social

535

: 00:33:14

media affect our mental health?

536

: 00:33:17

What about like our health as a Catholic?

537

: 00:33:21

Like.

538

: 00:33:22

media and Catholic social media,

we cannot say is for everyone.

539

: 00:33:26

We cannot say you should be there.

540

: 00:33:29

You have to be on it.

541

: 00:33:31

Like that's where you need to be.

542

: 00:33:33

No, no, no.

543

: 00:33:35

There are some people who I definitely

feel like should be on it and

544

: 00:33:41

should be consuming and creating it.

545

: 00:33:43

Um, but it's not for everyone or

else monks would be way out of whack

546

: 00:33:48

and not on it Okay, think of, the

social media or just Instagram realm

547

: 00:33:55

as this like digital diocese that

has no one really like in charge.

548

: 00:34:03

There's no like bishop of the

digital world, you know what I mean?

549

: 00:34:08

No

550

: 00:34:09

mari-wagner_1_08-01-2024_091105: Wow.

551

: 00:34:09

maclaine-noah_1_08-01-2024_091105:

calling the shots, keeping people in line

552

: 00:34:12

with church teaching and fact checking

things according to the catechism.

553

: 00:34:17

It is free reign.

554

: 00:34:19

And so,

555

: 00:34:20

mari-wagner_1_08-01-2024_091105: Yeah.

556

: 00:34:21

maclaine-noah_1_08-01-2024_091105:

Catholic on social media, you're going

557

: 00:34:24

to be getting content about that.

558

: 00:34:26

everything Catholic.

559

: 00:34:28

And some of those things might be

false, not on purpose, but we're not

560

: 00:34:34

church fathers, we're not theologians.

561

: 00:34:37

We're doing our best and

like sharing our testimony.

562

: 00:34:40

Um, but some people will

take things as writing.

563

: 00:34:45

Mari is Catholic.

564

: 00:34:46

And so what she said

about this topic is what

565

: 00:34:51

mari-wagner_1_08-01-2024_091105: Sure.

566

: 00:34:52

maclaine-noah_1_08-01-2024_091105:

believes,

567

: 00:34:53

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

568

: 00:34:54

maclaine-noah_1_08-01-2024_091105:

which is where it can get really tricky.

569

: 00:34:57

Yes.

570

: 00:34:58

mari-wagner_1_08-01-2024_091105: which I

like that you brought that up because as

571

: 00:35:00

a consumer, hopefully that like opens our

eyes a little bit more to use the Catholic

572

: 00:35:06

social media well, which we'll get into

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

573

: 00:35:10

draw inspiration from these creators.

574

: 00:35:12

I can learn from their testimonies,

but like, get to know your own faith.

575

: 00:35:17

Don't allow like the creator

to become the catechism.

576

: 00:35:20

You know what I mean?

577

: 00:35:21

Like the creator.

578

: 00:35:23

Isn't the church teaching isn't

like the law isn't the catechism.

579

: 00:35:27

They might have drawn from it.

580

: 00:35:28

We hope so.

581

: 00:35:29

But at the same time, like form

your own soul, form your own mind

582

: 00:35:33

and your faith and let that be the

starting point that inspires it.

583

: 00:35:37

But don't let it be the end.

584

: 00:35:38

Don't let it be like the

resource you're drawing from.

585

: 00:35:42

Um, yeah, so great.

586

: 00:35:47

maclaine-noah_1_08-01-2024_091105:

Yeah, love it.

587

: 00:35:49

mari-wagner_1_08-01-2024_091105:

Well, it's a great point.

588

: 00:35:51

maclaine-noah_1_08-01-2024_091105: Yeah.

589

: 00:35:52

mari-wagner_1_08-01-2024_091105: Um,

how let's turn the narrative around.

590

: 00:35:55

Let's talk about like, how

can someone have a better

591

: 00:35:59

relationship with social media?

592

: 00:36:00

We've all experienced

these negative effects.

593

: 00:36:02

And like you said, social media might

be great for some, some might recognize,

594

: 00:36:06

like, it's actually not good for my

life, but I think there's a happy

595

: 00:36:09

medium for a lot of us where like, we

can learn to use it well as a tool.

596

: 00:36:14

We can learn to grow in moderation.

597

: 00:36:17

Um, how Can someone have a better

relationship with social media?

598

: 00:36:21

What are some healthy habits, some

healthy boundaries that individuals

599

: 00:36:24

can implement, uh, with social media?

600

: 00:36:29

maclaine-noah_1_08-01-2024_091105:

Making intentional decisions.

601

: 00:36:32

Like, when you are making a decision,

having, having that conscious choice

602

: 00:36:39

behind it, and knowing, okay, I am,

I am choosing the, I don't know,

603

: 00:36:47

the Ollipop instead of the Diet Coke

because there's no aspartame in it.

604

: 00:36:52

Um, like, we're doing that intentionally.

605

: 00:36:55

Um, and so the same can

go with social media.

606

: 00:36:59

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

in control of our use of social media,

607

: 00:37:08

that's when it can really flourish.

608

: 00:37:11

there are a million ways to have a

good relationship with social media.

609

: 00:37:16

That's the cool thing.

610

: 00:37:17

You can invite Jesus into it and say, I

really don't want to scroll for too long.

611

: 00:37:24

Could you please, like, I don't

know, bring someone into my life

612

: 00:37:29

that'll help me live more presently.

613

: 00:37:32

Could you, um, like bring me into more

habits and then something, not just

614

: 00:37:39

waiting for God to, you know, do it for

you, but, I would say my first thing

615

: 00:37:48

is going to be going to confession.

616

: 00:37:51

I think a lot of.

617

: 00:37:53

examinations need to start

including overuse of media.

618

: 00:37:58

Whether that's YouTube and it's

like, okay, well I'm Facebook.

619

: 00:38:04

Watching YouTube for hours and hours

or having it on your entire workday.

620

: 00:38:10

You have that autoplay on and

it's always in the background.

621

: 00:38:14

need to start confessing to it's

like split, um, attention or really

622

: 00:38:23

not being present to the tasks that

we've been given by God, um, or

623

: 00:38:29

overuse or addiction of social media.

624

: 00:38:31

Confess it in the confessional,

ask your priest, what can I do?

625

: 00:38:36

And overall, when you're

going to be growing in virtue.

626

: 00:38:40

This is going to be not as big of an issue

because you're getting closer to Christ.

627

: 00:38:47

And so that should also affect any

other like addictive tendencies or

628

: 00:38:54

habitual vice you, um, see in yourself.

629

: 00:38:59

So it, pray about it.

630

: 00:39:02

Um, receive from your Bible before

you're receiving from Catholic Instagram.

631

: 00:39:09

up a Bible first.

632

: 00:39:10

This is so hard for me.

633

: 00:39:13

Um, with like nursing, it's so much

easier for me to have one hand than two.

634

: 00:39:19

And that's the first thing

that I do when I wake up.

635

: 00:39:22

And so, um, yeah, receiving from God,

the Eucharist, Jesus, the mass, the

636

: 00:39:29

physical, tangible sacramentals are

infinitely better than any photo of.

637

: 00:39:37

That's sacramental or a

recounting of a mass experience.

638

: 00:39:41

And so receiving from the incarnate

God first, then going to social media.

639

: 00:39:47

Um, I think, yeah, we

talked about a detox.

640

: 00:39:51

If there are people that you don't,

that you know, like you tend to

641

: 00:39:58

scroll a lot on their page, or you're

really intrigued with them in an

642

: 00:40:02

unhealthy way, or in a way that.

643

: 00:40:05

start to tell yourself negative

things about your life.

644

: 00:40:09

Um, stop following them.

645

: 00:40:12

Doesn't matter if it's a friend or

an influencer, stop following them.

646

: 00:40:16

It's not a big deal.

647

: 00:40:18

Um, I think, uh, a couple apps that

are in place, there's one called

648

: 00:40:24

clear space, which, um, helps you

with time limits and intentionality.

649

: 00:40:30

Um, there are the.

650

: 00:40:34

In system, um, time, time

restrictions that you can like

651

: 00:40:41

put the iPhone itself has,

652

: 00:40:44

mari-wagner_1_08-01-2024_091105: Yeah.

653

: 00:40:44

maclaine-noah_1_08-01-2024_091105:

the time limits, and make

654

: 00:40:47

sure you don't override them.

655

: 00:40:48

I have an hour time limit on my

Instagram my husband set my passcode.

656

: 00:40:54

still, to this day, do

not know that passcode.

657

: 00:40:56

So I have to go to him, a physical person

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

658

: 00:41:04

I did want to post this one more

thing, or maybe I ran out of time

659

: 00:41:07

because I was editing this reel

for about 20 minutes on Instagram.

660

: 00:41:13

you put like 10 more minutes on it?

661

: 00:41:16

And so you're interacting with someone

who has your sainthood in mind, whether

662

: 00:41:20

that's a friend, family member, spouse.

663

: 00:41:24

Um, yeah, those are the

first that come to mind.

664

: 00:41:27

Watch the social dilemma.

665

: 00:41:29

Like you, it's not necessary.

666

: 00:41:32

I won't say it's necessary.

667

: 00:41:34

But in some way researching what

social media does to people,

668

: 00:41:39

because it's different from any

other form of technology where like

669

: 00:41:43

the book is a form of technology.

670

: 00:41:46

It made information easier to access.

671

: 00:41:49

And I, I know that the book, when it

was introduced and written word was

672

: 00:41:54

like, Oh my gosh, people are going

to be have their heads in books.

673

: 00:41:58

And they're not going to be

interacting with society.

674

: 00:42:02

Compared to now, it's like,

my gosh, a book is so holy.

675

: 00:42:06

Like you're reading a

book that is amazing.

676

: 00:42:10

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

sober and awake to the effects of social

677

: 00:42:18

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

to just brush it off as what society does.

678

: 00:42:24

And we all just scroll while

we're with each other now.

679

: 00:42:27

So let's keep doing it.

680

: 00:42:28

mari-wagner_1_08-01-2024_091105: Yeah.

681

: 00:42:29

maclaine-noah_1_08-01-2024_091105:

So I hope those are helpful.

682

: 00:42:32

mari-wagner_1_08-01-2024_091105: They

were, yeah, I think what I really

683

: 00:42:34

love that you said were kind of like,

sometimes we, like I said, we need to

684

: 00:42:39

like, just not be naive about where we're

at and like, not kid ourselves and like

685

: 00:42:44

those, like, physical blockers, like

are good, like, to actually like, put.

686

: 00:42:50

A time limit on your phone.

687

: 00:42:51

And if you need someone to hold you

accountable and have a passcode, great.

688

: 00:42:55

That's what makes it easy.

689

: 00:42:56

You know, like I said earlier about like,

if I've given up social media for lunch

690

: 00:42:59

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

I'll often just leave the app there.

691

: 00:43:03

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

692

: 00:43:04

I won't open it.

693

: 00:43:05

But it's like, clearly.

694

: 00:43:07

We're not at that place yet.

695

: 00:43:09

Clearly like we need the extra step

of removing the app of setting a

696

: 00:43:13

time limit of having accountability

with a friend or a spouse.

697

: 00:43:17

Um, and that's okay.

698

: 00:43:18

I wouldn't say that's

something to feel bad about.

699

: 00:43:20

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

of just like put in this situation

700

: 00:43:24

because this is the time we grew up in.

701

: 00:43:27

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

necessarily our fault that we got

702

: 00:43:31

here, but it is our responsibility

to acknowledge like anything in

703

: 00:43:35

our life that we aren't using in

moderation because we're all trying

704

: 00:43:37

to live Christ centered lives.

705

: 00:43:39

And so this goes for anything that you

feel like is becoming a vice of some sort.

706

: 00:43:44

Like it's okay to have

really strong boundaries.

707

: 00:43:46

It's okay to have accountability and have

a friend kind of walk with you in that.

708

: 00:43:50

And it's really good.

709

: 00:43:52

Um, the other thing I was going to

say too, that I find helpful is kind

710

: 00:43:56

of having a standard in your life.

711

: 00:43:58

This is what I try to do of like, I

won't pick up my phone first thing in

712

: 00:44:02

the morning and it won't be like the

last thing that I see when I go to bed

713

: 00:44:06

maclaine-noah_1_08-01-2024_091105: Yeah.

714

: 00:44:06

mari-wagner_1_08-01-2024_091105:

that having that mentality every day.

715

: 00:44:09

Helps you realize how much you reach

for it and kind of helps you have kind

716

: 00:44:13

of like that self check of like Why

am I rolling over and grabbing this?

717

: 00:44:17

Okay, maybe like let's not sleep

with our phone next to our head

718

: 00:44:20

Which already is pretty bad for you.

719

: 00:44:21

So like let's put it on the other side

outside the room, you know And then just

720

: 00:44:25

doing that makes it so it's also not the

last thing you do before bed and we're

721

: 00:44:30

not stuck in like a scroll before bed and

having blue light affect our circadian

722

: 00:44:34

rhythm and Hormones and other things.

723

: 00:44:37

Um, and so replace that

with a short prayer.

724

: 00:44:42

Like when you get up, instead of reaching

for your phone, have that initial like

725

: 00:44:47

desire to reach now that you've heard

this, hopefully you can't forget it.

726

: 00:44:50

Um, you just remember like, Okay.

727

: 00:44:52

I'm reaching for something.

728

: 00:44:53

Like, let me reach for the Lord.

729

: 00:44:55

And it doesn't have to be a

big 30 minute prayer time.

730

: 00:44:57

Like just let it be like a quick

morning offering of like, Lord, thank

731

: 00:45:01

you for the rest that you gave me.

732

: 00:45:02

Like I give this day to you.

733

: 00:45:04

I entrust it to you.

734

: 00:45:05

And like, may your will be done.

735

: 00:45:07

And before you go to bed, instead of like

falling asleep as you're scrolling, like.

736

: 00:45:11

If you feel like you need to

reach for something again, reach

737

: 00:45:15

for the Lord, give him thanks for

the day and ask for good rest.

738

: 00:45:18

Um, and so I feel like

that's a good standard.

739

: 00:45:23

I will say, I feel like we should all

have, we should all work towards having

740

: 00:45:29

the Lord, um, have our first and last

moments of the day instead of our device.

741

: 00:45:34

maclaine-noah_1_08-01-2024_091105:

Absolutely.

742

: 00:45:35

Yeah.

743

: 00:45:35

Because imagine if, if we see ourselves

as, Catholic creators or, um, consumers

744

: 00:45:44

on social media, the disciples going out

kind of before they chatted with Jesus as

745

: 00:45:53

they were camping and traveling together.

746

: 00:45:56

they just like went and evangelized

and came back and were like,

747

: 00:46:01

Oh my gosh, I didn't even know

that you were here, Jesus.

748

: 00:46:06

Like, I just did all this stuff for you.

749

: 00:46:08

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

750

: 00:46:13

You know what I mean?

751

: 00:46:14

So can, we can do that same thing.

752

: 00:46:17

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

doing, and we create so much for Jesus

753

: 00:46:22

and do not even rest with him in any way.

754

: 00:46:25

So that you added that.

755

: 00:46:28

mari-wagner_1_08-01-2024_091105: Yeah.

756

: 00:46:29

Um, last thing you did mention the

examination of, or no, you mentioned

757

: 00:46:33

bringing this into confession and I know

you made an examination of conscience

758

: 00:46:37

for media use, um, a few years ago.

759

: 00:46:40

Tell us more about that.

760

: 00:46:42

maclaine-noah_1_08-01-2024_091105: Yes.

761

: 00:46:43

So I created this with, um, a friend

Mackenzie, who, was a missionary at the

762

: 00:46:50

same time as I was, and we were talking

about this topic a lot and it was really.

763

: 00:46:58

You've alluded to this, but

we are really trailblazing.

764

: 00:47:01

We think, okay, social media has

been around for a minute, but

765

: 00:47:06

I mean, 20 years is really not

where everyone is trailblazing.

766

: 00:47:11

Everyone's figuring out what media does.

767

: 00:47:15

We can see some of the effects,

but nothing like What we see to

768

: 00:47:20

be the effect of the television,

which was introduced longer ago.

769

: 00:47:25

So we're still learning a lot of things.

770

: 00:47:28

so we're talking about that and, um,

we desire to have, um, a very deep,

771

: 00:47:37

detailed examine about social media.

772

: 00:47:41

And so it's in three parts.

773

: 00:47:43

Um, because there are different questions

that creatives creators should be asking.

774

: 00:47:51

So people who are putting out content,

people who are consuming content, then

775

: 00:47:58

everyone who is just kind of, Using

and on social media in any generic way.

776

: 00:48:06

Um, because they do overlap and,

um, pretty much all creators are

777

: 00:48:12

going to be consumers, but not

all consumers will be creating.

778

: 00:48:16

So, um, there are many questions.

779

: 00:48:19

It's pinned onto my Instagram

profile, a Catholic combo.

780

: 00:48:22

It's the first post and,

um, it's pretty vintage.

781

: 00:48:26

Like it w we made it a little bit ago.

782

: 00:48:29

Um, But it has been super helpful

for so many people to ask themselves

783

: 00:48:36

questions and to ask Jesus questions

that they've never considered media, even

784

: 00:48:42

coming into the realm of or affecting.

785

: 00:48:45

So.

786

: 00:48:46

Um, yeah, hopefully it's just a

good tool that you can use and,

787

: 00:48:52

um, share it with whoever you want.

788

: 00:48:55

Um, it should be really helpful.

789

: 00:48:58

mari-wagner_1_08-01-2024_091105:

Yeah, I'm going to go back and

790

: 00:49:00

read it because it's so good.

791

: 00:49:03

Okay.

792

: 00:49:03

Anything else that you want to share

with our listeners before we wrap up?

793

: 00:49:08

maclaine-noah_1_08-01-2024_091105:

Um, I think, I think sometimes when

794

: 00:49:13

I, I love, love, love talking about

this topic, like if I were to write

795

: 00:49:17

a book, it would be about this topic

because it is so important to me.

796

: 00:49:22

And especially now that I'm raising.

797

: 00:49:26

I just think about where social media

will be when he starts using it.

798

: 00:49:31

Um, and so I think sometimes it can

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

799

: 00:49:39

boomers and millennials that are anti

social media and they want the kids to

800

: 00:49:45

get off their phones and all this stuff.

801

: 00:49:49

there is a huge movement in Gen Z.

802

: 00:49:52

Um, the log off movement also

is one that I wanted to mention.

803

: 00:49:57

Of people and young adults in our

generation, realizing that they

804

: 00:50:03

want the incarnate experience.

805

: 00:50:06

And even if it's Catholic, we're

not even talking about that.

806

: 00:50:12

are recognizing this is not.

807

: 00:50:15

As fruitful and as joyful as the

influencer experiencing it in real time

808

: 00:50:25

of what I'm looking at on social media.

809

: 00:50:27

Does that make sense?

810

: 00:50:28

mari-wagner_1_08-01-2024_091105:

Yeah, like living through the

811

: 00:50:32

influencer you love to follow versus

actually living life yourself.

812

: 00:50:37

maclaine-noah_1_08-01-2024_091105:

Exactly.

813

: 00:50:38

Yep.

814

: 00:50:39

And so I am perfectly content being

the annoying, uh, like old Gen Z.

815

: 00:50:47

I am the oldest Gen Zer that

exists because I'm born in 97.

816

: 00:50:52

Um, I'm content being that person and

saying, Hey, this is going to affect us

817

: 00:50:58

for generations, what if we just did it a

little more intentionally and also there

818

: 00:51:04

can be so much good that comes from it.

819

: 00:51:07

So I don't want it to sound like this

doom and gloom message of social media,

820

: 00:51:12

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

awake to what happen with social media

821

: 00:51:20

if we're striving for sainthood, then.

822

: 00:51:24

Knowing that information, I do find it

our responsibility and duty to help people

823

: 00:51:30

get to heaven and therefore bringing

up things that are roadblocks to that,

824

: 00:51:37

into that relationship with Christ.

825

: 00:51:39

And this is a huge one.

826

: 00:51:40

That's very.

827

: 00:51:44

Slight and very, um, sneaky because

it doesn't feel bad, especially when

828

: 00:51:49

you're only consuming Catholic content.

829

: 00:51:51

So, just maybe asking yourself, like,

if you feel, uh, You know, more joyful

830

: 00:52:00

or more known and seen, um, creating or

consuming Catholic content online than

831

: 00:52:08

you do in person, because the minute that

we lose our love and adoration for the

832

: 00:52:15

mass and for that, Repetition over and

over ever ancient, ever new experience.

833

: 00:52:22

Um, and we prefer graphics every

day of scripture and here's a new

834

: 00:52:28

monstrance and here's a new video and

dah, dah, dah, dah, that Catholicism.

835

: 00:52:32

Then we're really in a deep and we

need Jesus to completely destroy

836

: 00:52:39

like that desire that we have to

see him digitally versus person.

837

: 00:52:45

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

838

: 00:52:48

I love social media.

839

: 00:52:52

mari-wagner_1_08-01-2024_091105:

Ends with I love social media.

840

: 00:52:55

And you know, that's just the

essence of this whole conversation.

841

: 00:52:59

It's a very powerful conversation.

842

: 00:53:01

One that I think not

many people are having.

843

: 00:53:03

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

844

: 00:53:05

It needs to be had.

845

: 00:53:06

Um, it's.

846

: 00:53:07

Almost just like you, you can tell

me really mean it because like,

847

: 00:53:11

we're both content creators on

Instagram and like generally a

848

: 00:53:15

content creator probably wouldn't

tell you get off your phone, right?

849

: 00:53:17

Like they would want you to consume

their stuff, but we genuinely

850

: 00:53:20

care about your statehood and

your relationship with Christ.

851

: 00:53:24

And that comes before anything you consume

on Instagram, even if it's Catholic.

852

: 00:53:28

So ultimately I think what we want

people to walk away with is like,

853

: 00:53:32

yes, social media inherently, like,

doesn't have to be a bad thing.

854

: 00:53:37

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

855

: 00:53:39

Is it using us?

856

: 00:53:41

Are we using it?

857

: 00:53:42

How can we learn to really like

render it as a tool in our life and

858

: 00:53:47

let it go and let it be what it is.

859

: 00:53:50

It's just an app on our phone.

860

: 00:53:52

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

861

: 00:53:54

We don't have to make it

more than it really is.

862

: 00:53:56

So hopefully this is

an invitation for you.

863

: 00:53:59

For all of us to really rearrange

our relationship with social media,

864

: 00:54:03

hopefully, and build some health,

healthier habits and allow it to be the

865

: 00:54:07

good tool and place of connection that

we have experienced it to be at times.

866

: 00:54:12

Um, and that I think that it

can truly has the power to be.

867

: 00:54:15

Um, so before we close out, uh, where

can our listeners learn more about you?

868

: 00:54:22

maclaine-noah_1_08-01-2024_091105:

Um, definitely on Instagram.

869

: 00:54:25

My handle is a Catholic Convo

um, That's pretty much it.

870

: 00:54:31

My, my website is a little bit of a

museum, so you can find a couple blog

871

: 00:54:37

posts on there, but I'm really focused

on my motherhood, uh, in this season.

872

: 00:54:42

So find me on Instagram.

873

: 00:54:45

I'll chat with you about

social media anytime.

874

: 00:54:48

Um, send me any voice memos or

questions that you have in my DMs,

875

: 00:54:52

and I would love to hear from you.

876

: 00:54:54

Speak into more of this topic if you want.

877

: 00:54:57

mari-wagner_1_08-01-2024_091105: Yes.

878

: 00:54:58

Oh, well, so good.

879

: 00:54:59

Thank you, Matt, for coming on today.

880

: 00:55:01

It was so good to have you.

881

: 00:55:02

maclaine-noah_1_08-01-2024_091105:

Thanks Mari.