The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA) at Georgetown University released the results of a recent study on Catholics’ use of social media at the U.S. Bishops’ annual Fall General Assembly over the weekend in Baltimore.
The results show more than 80 percent of Catholics under 30 use social media, such as Facebook and Twitter, and nearly 3 million follow Catholic-themed blogs. The data suggests there are new opportunities for the Church to engage with the faithful, especially young adult Catholics. This is particular important at a time when the secularization of our culture is leading young Catholics further away from Christ and His Church.
By utilizing social media more effectively, parishes and Catholic organizations have new opportunities for evangelization and can reach individuals who might not otherwise encounter the message of Christ.