Digital media fasting: Christians disconnect to reconnect during Holy Week

Many Catholics spend the Lenten season to reflect on and remember the sacrifice made by Jesus Christ.

While some Catholics strictly observe meal fasting and meat abstinence, others take the chance to engage in what the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) refers to as "digital media fasting."

Maica Maglipon, 29, has been practicing digital fasting for six years. Coming from a devout Catholic family, their household has strictly observed Holy Week.

“We really observe Holy Week. Hindi ko kayang mag-fasting sa food. Hindi ko kaya talaga. Tapos minsan yung meat, nalilimutan ko. So, ito na lang yung pinaka-sacrifice ko talaga—yung digital fasting,” the graphic designer told GMA News Online.

(We really observe Holy Week. I can’t do food fasting. I really can’t. And sometimes I forget about [abstaining from] meat. So, this is really my main sacrifice—digital fasting.)

From Maundy Thursday to Black Saturday, Maglipon makes sure to deactivate her Facebook account and log out from other social media accounts. She only leaves her online messenger open for work or family-related matters.

“Pero with Facebook, nagde-deactivate talaga ako. And I think I do this kasi gusto ko ng peace of mind during Holy Week. It's the only week na super nilalaan ko talaga for peace, parang ganun, to reconnect as well,” she said.

(But with Facebook, I really deactivate. And I think I do this because, I don’t know, I want peace of mind during the Holy Week. It's the only week that I really dedicate to peace, like that, to reconnect as well.)

CBCP President Archbishop Gilbert Garcera earlier said that “excessive media use can lead to distraction, fatigue, loss of focus, weakened relationships, and diminished spiritual awareness.”

“Digital media fasting helps restore balance and reminds us that technology must serve human life—not dominate it,” he added.

In those three days of digital media fasting, Maglipon realized that she doesn’t have to know everything, as social media offers information round-the-clock.

“I think masasabi ko na ang peaceful ng feeling. Ang masasabi mo sa sarili mo na you don't have to know everything. Like, kasi diba, si social media offers everything na. You want to know something, eto, chismis, eto, nandyan siya, readily available siya,” she said.

(I think I can say the feeling is so peaceful. You can say to yourself that you don't have to know everything. Like, right, social media offers everything now. You want to know something? Here it is; gossip? Here it is—it’s just there; it’s readily available.)

“Pero with this, parang ang gaan-gaan sa feeling na going back to the days na wala namang social media eh, na kinaya naman natin siya before, na why not do it now? Parang kung gusto mo lang talaga i-rest yung mind mo, especially if you're someone na easily affected,” Maglipon added.

(But with this, it feels so light, like going back to the days when there was no social media; we survived it before, so why not do it now? Like if you just really want to rest your mind, especially if you're someone who is easily affected.)

Other Christians also practice digital media fasting. For instance, couple Lailah and Marvin Tilan have been observing it for over a decade.

Even when it's not Lent, the Tilan family fasts from digital media. They also carry it out throughout their church's fasting season.

“Nili-limit namin siya kasi number one distraction kasi siya talaga eh. So hindi naman sa parang meron kang panata on Holy Week. Pwede mo naman siyang gawin talaga as long as you feel na nakaka-distract 'yun sa spiritual life mo, 'yung time mo kay God. So, ito nga lang kasi di ba walang pasok, talagang parang ito yung mas better day na talagang makakabigay ka ng full focus kay Lord,” Lailah Tilan told GMA News Online.

(We limit it because it’s really the number one distraction. So it’s not like you just have a vow for Holy Week. You can actually do it as long as you feel that it’s distracting your spiritual life, your time with God. So, since there’s no work right now, this is the best day to truly give full focus to the Lord.)

Their family goes offline as they spend a day or two during the Holy Week to pray and worship. To make it fun for the kids, they also play a quiz about the Bible.

“We also make a time to remember yung ginawa ng Lord sa atin. So, kaming family, ginagawa namin, magwo-worship kami…but much more time that we give sa worship, sa pagbabasa ng Bible, sharing time. Spending time, for example, magwa-watch kami but purely about Jesus lang. Mayroon pa nga kaming pa-program, may pa-game pa kami,” said Lailah Tilan.

(We also make a time to remember what the Lord did for us. So, as a family, what we do is we worship… but we give much more time to worship, to reading the Bible, and to sharing time. Spending time, for example, we will watch [something] but purely about Jesus only. We even have a program; we even have games.)

“Tsaka nakaka-toxic talaga yung mga binabasa din most of the time doon. Especially what's happening right now, ibat-ibang opinyon. So, naapektuhan din kasi yung parang perception mo, mindset mo. So, better na wala ‘yun and mabigay mo yung time mo sa pagbabasa ng Bible,” she added.

(And what you read there most of the time is also really toxic. Especially what's happening right now, there are also different opinions, so your perception and mindset also get affected, so it's better that those aren't there and you can give your time to reading the Bible.)

Small steps

The CBCP earlier said that digital media fasting allows more time for prayer, scripture reading, Eucharistic devotion, works of mercy, and meaningful interactions.

Among the ways to do digital media fasting include avoiding phone use before sleep and upon waking; limiting social media and streaming time; observing device-free meals and gatherings; trying occasional 24-hour or weekend digital fasts; removing distracting apps; or replacing screen time with prayer, service, reading, or conversation.

But unplugging from the internet right away wouldn’t be easy. Maglipon suggested taking a few small steps.

“Try mo lang na, kunyari, few hours muna. Huwag mong biglain. Kasi hindi siya ganun kadali. Lalo na for people who post a lot, for people who browse a lot. Few hours. Then, if you can, increase mo siya a bit. Ganyan. Or if you can't deactivate, log out mo lang,” she said.

(Just try, for example, a few hours first. Don’t rush it because it’s not that easy, especially for people who post a lot or who browse a lot. A few hours. Then, if you can, increase it a bit, like that. Or if you can't deactivate, just log out.)

“So, siguro, sinimulan ko siya kasi with pag gising ko, kasi check agad ng phone. Like, ngayon, pag nag-alarm yung phone ko, tapos nagising na ako, hinahayahan ko muna siya doon. Like, 'Diyan ka muna; magmumuni-muni muna ako dito.' Hindi ko na naging habit na pag gising ko sa morning, check agad ako ng phone. I take a few minutes muna,” Maglipon added.

(So, I guess I started it because upon waking up, I used to check my phone immediately. Like, now, when my phone alarm goes off and I’m awake, I just leave it there for a while, like, 'Stay there for now. I’m going to reflect here first.’ It didn’t remain a habit that when I wake up in the morning, I check my phone right away. I take a few minutes first.)

For Marvin Tilan, fasting was one way that God showed His grace. 

“Maraming testimony kami na talagang si Lord, as long as you're really fasting, God will answer your prayers. Maraming miracles na mangyayari sa buhay natin,” Marvin Tilan said.

(We have many testimonies that as long as you're really fasting, God will answer your prayers. Many miracles will happen in our lives.) — VBL, GMA News