Hannah Moore's review of Instagram review
Date last edited: 11-22-2024 at 07:23PM
Rating: Not Rated
Review:
• Title: Instagram
• Developer: Meta Platforms, Inc. (formerly Facebook, Inc.)
• Genre: Social Media Platform
• Your Rating: 3/5
• Primary Audience: Individuals aged 13+, including casual users, influencers, businesses, and content creators.
• Version: The latest version varies by platform (e.g., iOS: 318.0, Android: 318.0 as of November 2024).
• Platform: iOS, Android, web browsers
• Cost: Free to download and use, with optional in-app purchases
In an age dominated by social media, platforms like Instagram wield immense influence over how we communicate, perceive the world, and express ourselves. As Catholics, engaging with such tools requires intentionality, ensuring that our use aligns with faith and moral principles. By applying the Church's seven media keys—Balance, Attitude Awareness, Dignity of the Human Person, Truth-Filled, Inspiring, Skillfully Developed, and Motivated by Mission—we can navigate Instagram in a way that uplifts both ourselves and others, transforming it into a tool for evangelization and personal growth.
The First Media Key: Balance
The First Media Key is Balance, particularly in concern to the virtue of temperance. Temperance as a moral virtue that helps people balance their use of created goods, moderate their attraction to pleasures, and master their instincts. This virtue is incredibly important in regards to social media because the harms of not using temperance can be detrimental to one’s mental health.
Instagram is a powerful tool, but without moderation, it can dominate time and attention, disrupting prayer, family life, and work. Spending hours scrolling through posts, reels, or stories can lead to spiritual and emotional fatigue. Practicing balance means intentionally setting boundaries, such as limiting daily app usage, turning off notifications, or designating tech-free times to focus on relationships and personal growth. A balanced approach also involves curating a feed with uplifting and meaningful content, ensuring that time on Instagram enriches rather than detracts from our overall well-being and vocation.
The Second Media Key: Attitude Awareness
The Second Media Key is Attitude Awareness, which specifically uses the virtue of prudence. Much like the virtue of temperance, not using prudence when partaking in social media can have very negative affects on one’s mental health.
Instagram subtly influences attitudes and values through the content it promotes. If left unchecked, it can foster envy, pride, or discontent as users compare their lives to the often-curated images of others. Catholics using Instagram should frequently examine their hearts: How does this platform affect my thoughts about myself and others? Does it encourage gratitude and humility, or does it plant seeds of dissatisfaction? By following accounts that promote positivity, faith, and virtue, users can ensure their time on Instagram nurtures a Christ-centered attitude that reflects joy and trust in God’s plan.
The Third Media Key: The Dignity of the Human Person
The Third Media Key is the Dignity of the Human Person. This Key particularly uses the virtue of justice, which is integral to the understanding of not using social media unjustly - to harm the dignity of the human person. It is “to respect the rights of each and to establish in human relationships the harmony that promotes equity with regard to persons and to the common good.” (Gan, pg. 63) Without the respect of the Dignity of the Human person in media we cannot promote or sustain justice in our culture.
Instagram content should always respect and uphold the dignity of every individual, reflecting the Catholic understanding that all people are made in the image and likeness of God. This means avoiding and reporting content that objectifies, demeans, or exploits others, such as immodest or harmful imagery. It also means being intentional about what one posts, ensuring that shared content affirms human worth and celebrates the beauty of God’s creation. Highlighting stories of compassion, service, and the inherent value of each person can transform Instagram into a space where dignity is celebrated rather than diminished.
The Fourth Media Key: Truth‐Filled
The Fourth Media Key is Truth-Filled. This key correlates directly with the virtue of fortitude. Fortitude is the moral virtue that ensures firmness in difficulties and constancy in the pursuit of the good. This is very important when using media because we must always be mindful of what is a pursuit of the good, and we must be able to stand firm against those aspects of media that do not.
The digital world is often rife with misinformation, and Instagram is no exception. Catholics are called to be witnesses to truth, using Instagram as a platform to share authentic experiences, spread messages aligned with the Gospel, and avoid contributing to the spread of lies or sensationalism. This includes fact-checking information before sharing, providing context in captions, and ensuring that images accurately represent reality. By using Instagram to share uplifting testimonies, Scripture reflections, or causes rooted in truth and justice, users can ensure that their content reflects honesty and integrity, drawing others closer to the light of Christ.
The Fifth Media Key: Inspiring
The Fifth Media Key is Inspiring. This is incredibly important in the use of media, because media can be used to inspire others and lead us and others towards God.
Instagram has immense potential to inspire and uplift, offering a platform to share beauty, goodness, and hope. For Catholics, this could mean posting photos of sacred art, sharing moments of gratitude, or recounting stories of faith and perseverance. Following accounts that encourage virtue, such as Catholic artists, speakers, or mission organizations, can also fill one’s feed with inspiration. By focusing on content that lifts the heart and mind toward God, users can turn Instagram into a tool for evangelization, encouraging others to seek truth, beauty, and goodness in their own lives.
The Sixth Media Key: Skillfully Developed
The Sixth Media Key is Skillfully Developed. This key is linked directly with the virtue of faith. Having a strong faith and understanding of our Creator and the world around us in light of Him is how we can create media that is fully and skillfully developed.
Creating meaningful content on Instagram requires skill and attention to detail. Whether crafting a well-written caption, selecting a powerful image, or designing visually appealing posts, Catholics can use their talents to communicate their message effectively. Well-made content demonstrates respect for the audience and reflects the principle of doing all things for the glory of God. Investing time in learning photography, graphic design, or storytelling can make posts more engaging, ensuring that they capture attention while conveying a message of faith, hope, and love with excellence.
The Seventh Media Key: Motivated by and Relevant to Experience
The Seventh Media Key is Motivated by and Relevant to Experience. This media key uses the “virtue of charity; which can promote sympathy for and understanding of others.” (Gan, pg. 128) Motivation driven by charity is the best way to try and motivate others.
As Catholics, our ultimate goal in all we do—even in our use of Instagram—should be to glorify God and draw others closer to Him. Instagram provides countless opportunities for evangelization, whether through sharing Scripture, promoting charitable causes, or posting personal reflections that witness to the faith. Every interaction—likes, comments, or shares—should reflect this mission, helping to build a digital community centered on truth and love. By seeing Instagram as a tool for the New Evangelization, users can ensure that their time on the platform contributes to the spread of the Gospel and the building of the Kingdom of God.
When approached thoughtfully, Instagram can be more than a source of entertainment; it can become a space for authentic connection, creativity, and the spread of Gospel values. By integrating the seven media keys into our use of the platform, we ensure that our time and energy are spent in ways that reflect our faith and build up the Kingdom of God. Through moderation, mindfulness, and mission-driven action, Instagram can serve as a modern tool for sharing truth, beauty, and goodness with the world.
Seven Keys:
Balanced:
Attitude:
Personal:
Truth-filled:
Inspired:
Skillfully Made:
Experienced:
Overall Rating: 7/35
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