Views on social media and religion among the Polish YARG respondents

Young Poles have ample access to social media. However, having access to and using social media does not mean that one cannot at the same time hold very critical attitudes toward social media. Many previous studies have explored peoples’ varying attitudes toward and reasons for using social media (Tufekci 2008; Ridell 2011; McAndrew and Jeong 2012). Our respondents likewise articulate many reasons for both taking part in social media and for not doing so, both generally as well as in relation to religion specifically.

Why not social media

The young Poles that took part in our study discussed several reasons why they were skeptical toward social media and particularly toward using social media or the Internet more broadly for religion-related purposes. One respondent simply declared that “one can find total rubbish on the Internet” (YPLSS106). Many saw the Internet as un-reliable and preferred to get their information from other sources. Even though many respondents recognized how easy social media are to use and what they have to offer, they were still not inclined to use it. As one respondent put it:

Obviously, Facebook is now number one, and simply everything is there: some news from Oner, they publish some news and - I mean it is easier because you don’t have to go to a Kiosk in the morning, buy your paper and read it, but you could go on the Internet and everything is presented to you on a silver platter. ... I would prefer to buy a newspaper and read something that had been written by a real journalist, rather than someone who could be lying.

(YPLSS104)

While this quote provides an illustration of a more widespread general skepticism toward news and information disseminated via social media that is common among our respondents, some also raised questions about the impact of social media on personal communication:

But well - yes - what also annoys me a bit among young people is that it is hard to talk to them because they are busy with writing SMS texts or um - for instance, with sending messages on Facebook. And this is a bit sad when you just see how those contacts drift apart.

(YPLSS97)

In the view of this respondent, social media are considered to have a negative impact on human relations. Instead of communication via social media, many respondents in this group therefore preferred personal face-to-face interactions:

I think that this [Facebook] is not a place for discussions. For me, the Internet is a place where people do not necessarily express what they feel. They rather try to arouse some emotions and do not necessarily express their beliefs. I try to stay away from this and not to be active in discussions.... I mean that the Internet has such a - power which makes people think that they can say anything and go unpunished because it is always the case that if someone expresses a strong view and another person - tries to contradict it, it usually does not end in substantive discussion. ... I think it is not a place for a good discussion.

(YPLSS129)

Instead of turning to the Internet, this respondent preferred interacting directly with others: “I think it is a circle of people who have different views but meet face-to-face” (YPLSS129). Another respondent deemed communication online to be humiliating and childish:

I don’t really like to write such things on the Internet because for me it is making yourself ridiculous and like - I don’t know - writing stupid comments about it - it is pathetic to me because arguing on the Internet is nothing. If that person met me normally and talked to me, then yes. But this, to me, it is childish.

(YPLSS104)

Being skeptical about the potential of social media for in-depth communication does not, however, necessarily entail a dismissive view of social media as such. As one respondent put it: “I cannot imagine life without Facebook, however - when I talk to someone or there are some discussions, I prefer a direct contact than the Internet” (YPLSS077).

Some respondents also reported having experienced hate speech and intolerance online. Because of this, they did not reveal their religious beliefs on social media:

I just have a lot of friends on Facebook who publish a lot of text messages, pictures and memes condemning faiths, anticlerical and so on. At one time, I tried to enter into discussion with those people but later it turned out that no matter how tolerant I was trying to be toward them saying that I understand their view, I felt hurt because these things were against my views and those people did not understand this. They usually said that - Catholics can say and do something and so on - but I cannot. So, a discussion with such people has no effect. I would even say that it is - that the result is opposite to the intended one.

(YPLSS129)

The experience that it is difficult to have meaningful discussions about religion online has been identified in much previous research (e.g. Lovheim 2004, 2008), and this was also reflected in the accounts of our Polish respondents. Some respondents also expressed concern about privacy online. Since they mainly view religion as a private matter, they were not comfortable with disclosing religious beliefs or views on social media:

I try to remain relatively anonymous on social media. I think it is a very healthy attitude nowadays. Not only in the context of socio-political situation in the country, but generally - privacy is very important on rhe Internet, and religious issues are also a private matter. So it is better to -let’s be honest - hide yourself rather than display everything. Although if someone enjoys it, go ahead. As for me, I prefer to maintain a certain dose of privacy.

(YPLSS149)

Those skeptical to using social media and the Internet in religion-related matters were thus of the opinion that social media affect inter-personal connections negatively and that the Internet does not provide a good platform for discussions about issues such as religion. While these respondents might still use social media, they did so for other purposes. For some of these respondents, religion was clearly viewed as a private matter. While it is a part of their identity, it is not a part they felt much of a need to share with others, and especially not via social media, which they felt can distort what they stand for and lead to unproductive debates.