From adiction to a virtuous use of the Internet
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The use of information and communication technologies has deeply reshaped numerous dimensions of human life, facilitating labor, leisure, interpersonal relationships, and many other aspects of daily existence, at the point of becoming an indispensable component of our lives. At the same time, it is widely acknowledged that the digital sphere possesses a significant addictive potential and entails serious moral risks when employed indiscriminately, above all because of the contents –most notably pornography– that proliferates in it. Within the context of Christian formation, may recommendations have
aimed to avoid such dangers. In the present article we intend a further step: is it possible to engage these media in a virtuous manner, so that their use contributes to the integral growth of the person and to her maturation as a Christian? To this end, we shall offer a proposal both for personal advancement and for the task of those –parents, teachers, and spiritual guides– who accompany others, whether young or mature, in their human and spiritual development. Our reflections will be organized around three areas. The first two concern work and leisure, spheres in which it proves necessary to establish in advance a clear framework including the purposes of one’s online activity, and to remain faithfully within those boundaries. The third domain pertains to situations in which an individual has succumbed to a disordered use of the internet; in such cases, it can be necessary to limit the functionalities of the digital devices and to seek the assistance of a mentor.
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