MORE THAN JUST a daily habit, many among us are hooked to social media — whether games, or active posts, viewing, replying to contents and to show off their creativity and social activities (mostly in restaurants and events place) as if a day of not doing so has isolated them from their communities.
But addiction to social media is one vital area that we can sacrifice or fast on this Lenten season as prescribed by the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP).
The CBCP calls this as “digital media fasting” as part of the Lenten discipline this year, without discarding or disregarding the traditional fasting methods of foregoing cravings for food, eating just one meal a day and attending masses, if possible, for the entire season, preferably First Fridays, Ash Wednesday (which is today) and being more prayerful (as opposed to socializing in beaches, parties and the like).
The bishops, in a pastoral message entitled “Fasting Beyond Food: Inviting Christ into Digital Media Use,” said the traditional practice of fasting must also address modern distractions, particularly the pervasive influence of digital technology.
“As we approach the holy season of Lent 2026, the CBCP invites all the faithful to renew their hearts through prayer, fasting, and works of mercy,” the CBCP said.
While fasting has long been associated with abstaining from food, the bishops explained that it also means detaching from anything that draws one’s heart away from God.
They pointed to constant engagement with phones, social media, streaming platforms, and online entertainment as factors that can weaken interior life and diminish silence and reflection.
“Technology is a blessing when used responsibly, yet excessive media use often leads to distraction, fatigue, loss of focus, weakened relationships, and diminished spiritual awareness,” the statement read.
The prelates clarified that digital media fasting is not anti-technology but a call to place technology at the service of human life, rather than allowing it to dominate daily routines.
“By limiting screen time, the faithful are encouraged to create space for prayer, reading Scripture, Eucharistic devotion, works of mercy, and meaningful encounters with others.
The bishops described the practice as a path toward interior conversion.”
Although admittedly there are sites devoted to prayers and meditation, which to the CBCP cannot compare with actual prayers and meditation done physically in churches and other places of worship.
“Digital media fasting is not simply about giving something up. It is about making room for something better.”
Among the concrete steps suggested are avoiding phone use before sleep and upon waking, observing device-free meals, limiting social media and streaming time, practicing occasional 24-hour or weekend digital fasts, and replacing screen time with prayer, service, reading, or conversation.
The bishops expressed hope that through this discipline, the faithful may grow in faith, clarity, and deeper communion with God and one another.
Today, being Ash Wednesday, I hope the faithful would not forget the obligation to hear mass, confession and receive the Holy Eucharist and have their foreheads marked with ashes to remind them of human mortality. “From dust we came to dust we shall return.”