Fighting Social Media’s Grip
What issues are young people struggling with today?
According to one Catholic school principal, “loneliness, anxiety, identity confusion, and a loss of meaning and purpose.”
“They don’t know God nor seek Him, because they are bombarded with messages from social media that promise fulfillment, happiness, and self-worth,” said Christina Mehaffey, principal of Faustina Academy in Irving, Texas. “Many are growing up in a culture that normalizes sin, broken relationships, encourages self-indulgence, and often mocks faith, purity, and sacrifice.”
“They are also burdened by intense performance pressure—to achieve, impress, and align themselves with influencers—without a clear understanding of who they are before God,” Mehaffey continued.
“We also see a great deal of moral and spiritual confusion: about what love truly is, what the human person is made for, and what leads to real freedom and happiness. The result is often discouragement, restlessness, and a sense of being alone,” she said.
Faustina Academy limits screentime
In 2023, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy reported that up to 95 percent of young people ages 13-17 use a social media platform. For those using social media for more than the average three hours per day, their risk of symptoms of depression and anxiety doubles.
What will be the long-term effects of smartphones, social media, and screen time on the youth of our country? Faustina Academy isn’t waiting to find out.
Faustina Academy, a Newman Guide Recommended school focused on Catholic formation, is taking a proactive approach to technology. Students are not permitted to carry or access smartphones during the school day. They also may not have social media accounts on Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, and other platforms.
This is a revolutionary approach, but Mehaffey believes it is critical to the mission of the school.
“We intentionally educate and inform families about the neurological, emotional, and spiritual effects of smartphone and social-media use, and parents commit—through the enrollment contract—to uphold these expectations consistently at home,” she explained.
“This issue is vital because it connects directly to our mission: leading souls to Heaven,” Mehaffey said. “If we are truly committed to this mission, then social media and digital addiction cannot be part of our students’ daily lives.”
“It is impossible for young people to consistently seek the Good, the True, and the Beautiful, while being bombarded—after school hours—with conflicting, confusing, and often harmful messages on screens. Such exposure can quickly unravel the formation, clarity, and virtue we work so intentionally to cultivate during the school day.”
The policy has had “a transformational impact” on the school culture, Mehaffey said.
“Without smartphones or social-media distractions, students are more present, focused, confident, and engaged. They form deeper friendships, participate more fully in academic and spiritual life, and experience noticeably reduced anxiety and comparison pressure,” explained Mehaffey.
“Teachers report richer discussions, stronger attention spans, and a more peaceful classroom environment, while parents express gratitude that their children are growing in a community grounded in real relationships and authentic formation.”
St. Rita School’s family pledge
Another Newman Guide Recommended school that is devoted to the Catholic, integral formation of students in a tech-obsessed world is St. Rita Catholic School in Alexandria, Virginia.
As at St. Faustina’s, there wasn’t a problem with technology use during school hours. It was what was happening with technology outside of school hours that was raising an alarm for the school’s principal and teachers.
Teachers “noticed how many students were discussing social media, spoke about cyberbullying,” explained Malia Busekrus, principal of St. Rita. Through her own research for her graduate school work, Busekrus learned more about the negative effects of smartphone use on young people—and how little parents are educated on the topic.
“Through my research, I discovered that the ‘gap in the literature’ was that parents didn’t understand the complexities of what their kids are dealing with when they are using devices. What’s missing? Parent information, formation, and the role of parental guidance in managing device use,” Busekrus said.
Through the dedication of the school leadership, passionate teachers, and committed families, the school began educating families about the dangers of smartphone use and social media for young people:
- The school hosted speakers like Peter Ryan, co-founder of the Center for Responsible Technology, to present to parents at back-to-school night.
- Book clubs for parents of students in grades K-3 and 4-8 discussed books like The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness.
- The school community was invited to join the “Diocesan-Wide Day to Unplug” from devices.
- The school also learned from national movements like the “Wait Until 8th” pledge, in which families delay smartphone use until at least the end of 8th
An entirely new initiative at St. Rita’s was born: “Real Presence Collective: An Incarnational Approach to Friendship, Family, and the Good Life.” The Collective is an optional community for St. Rita families who pledge that their children will not have smartphones or social media while a student at St. Rita School. The school pledges to continue guiding families on this topic and providing resources, activities, and events for the community. So far, 100 students and their families have pledged to the Real Presence Collective.
The Collective isn’t simply a “rejection of smartphones” but a “joyful affirmation of what it means to live the good life.” Activities for students through the collective include a fall festival, pumpkin carving, laser tag, trivia, and book club.
“This initiative responds to a pressing cultural challenge that threatens the social, emotional, and spiritual well-being of our children, a challenge which undermines their innocence and contributes to scientifically evidenced mental health issues and social struggles,” the philosophy statement states.
“By fostering a community of like-minded families committed to this goal, we aim to create an environment where students are free to develop authentic relationships with God and others, cultivate imagination, and focus on the pursuit of truth, goodness, and beauty.”
Colleges address technology issues
Newman Guide Recommended colleges also stand out for their courageous efforts to address modern challenges. For instance, many block pornography on campus wi-fi and provide resources to help students fight and heal from pornography addictions.
Wyoming Catholic College’s no cell-phone policy frees students from virtual distractions and offers them the freedom for real, in-person connections in the classroom, cafeteria, and dorm room.
Benedictine College in Atchison, Kan., recently launched a new Center for Technology and Human Dignity in response to Pope Leo XIV’s call to address the rise of artificial intelligence.
“The Center offers a Catholic lens through which to evaluate emerging technologies,” explained Dr. Mariele Courtois, the Center’s director.
“Our Catholic college is able to engage the unique resources of its faculty, staff, and programs to draw from the insights and rigor of various disciplines—from computer science, to engineering, to philosophy and theology—to grapple with how to direct technology to ethical practices while also determining when to limit technology use in light of higher goals for human life, namely to care for our relationships with God and other people,” Courtois said.
While educating students about artificial intelligence, Benedictine College is also helping students foster a healthy relationship with technology.
“Benedictine College values authentic human experiences: meaningful relationships, commitment to service, a pursuit of excellence, and a heart that seeks to love like Christ,” Courtois said. “These values help to form consciences and avoid distractions and manipulations from technology that can interfere with living one’s vocation.”
Teaching family values
Beyond the crisis of smartphone and technology addiction, Newman Guide Recommended colleges are addressing the collapse of a proper understanding of man, woman, marriage, family, and human sexuality.
For example, fewer high school girls than ever plan to marry and have children, according to the Pew Research Center. In 1993, 83 percent of 12th grade girls planned to get married someday, but today only 61 percent plan to do so. If they do get married, only about 50 percent of 12th grade girls and boys plan to have children.
Fortunately, there are efforts like the Institute for the Study of Man and Woman at Franciscan University of Steubenville, Ohio, which offers research and education from a Catholic perspective on the value of marriage and the blessing of children. The University of St. Thomas in Houston recently launched a Graduate Certificate in Sexuality and Gender that teaches the Catholic understanding of the human person for professionals in education, ministry, healthcare, and more.
Christendom College in Front Royal, Va., is offering a new free, online Theology of the Body course with Professor Mary Stanford in response to some of the most pressing cultural challenges, including gender ideology, sexual confusion, widespread loneliness, and moral uncertainty.
“A young person who takes this course and discovers the Catholic view of theology of the body will come away with a deeper understanding of themselves as a man or woman, along with the anthropological and spiritual insights that lead to healthy relationships,” explained Niall O’Donnell, the College’s vice president for communications and marketing. “They will grow in their ability to understand the opposite sex, cultivate authentic friendship, and prepare for their vocation—whether that is marriage, priesthood, or religious life. The wisdom of John Paul II is a gift for anyone seeking clarity, confidence, and direction in a confusing world.”
O’Donnell says free online courses and the College’s commitment to the Catholic faith and liberal education can help many people beyond campus: “The Catholic intellectual tradition, expressed through the timeless liberal arts, offers profound beauty and wisdom to those asking life’s deepest questions: Is there a better way to live? What is my purpose? Am I prepared for the future?”
For students on campus, the impact is even greater.
“Through the study of philosophy, theology, literature, and history, students receive the principles and formation that sustain them throughout life,” said O’Donnell. Students thrive “where a close-knit academic community and dedicated staff and faculty mentors walk with students during one of the most important stages of their growth.”
Here is the wisdom in St. John Henry Cardinal Newman’s insistence on education that embraces the truths of our Catholic faith. In faithful Catholic education, there is no separation between life and learning, morality and academics, or technology and humanity. Newman Guide Recommended education leads to greater joy in the hope of Christ and healthier lifestyles, changing the habits and priorities of its students.
Highlighting a few Newman Guide Recommended College Initiatives:
- Wyoming Catholic College’s Technology Policy includes no cell phones or handheld devices with wireless or cellular data on campus
- Benedictine College launches a new Center for Technology and Human Dignity
- Franciscan University of Steubenville offers the Institute for the Study of Man and Woman
- University of St. Thomas in Houston offers a Graduate Certificate in Sexuality and Gender
- Christendom College offers a free, online Theology of the Body course