Catholic communicators in Indonesia urged to put ethics before virality

Catholic communicators in Indonesia were urged to prioritize human dignity, truth, and ethical responsibility over social media virality during a regional meeting in Pematangsiantar. The Komsos and SIGNIS Sumatra Regional Meeting included a session on September 24 focused on the moral challenges of digital communication.

Father Ivo Manullang, a lecturer at the Faculty of Philosophy of St. Thomas Catholic University in Medan, led the session on morality and ethics in digital spaces. He told participants that social media is an environment where people live with their identities and values, rather than just a communication tool. He warned that online communication has real consequences for others because every account and comment represents a person.

The seminar advised communicators to avoid using virality as a measure of success, noting that sensational or controversial content often attracts attention faster than messages that require reflection. Instead of seeking viral content, participants were encouraged to evaluate whether their work is true, good, beautiful, and helpful to the human person.