--- title: 3 Steps to Shining your Light Online description: Lisa Henley Jones outlines 3 ways you can make the Digital Continent a better place. image: https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/0628-LJones-3-Steps-to-Shining-your-Light-Online-CM-Option2.png --- [![catholic-mom-logo-v2](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/images/catholic-mom-logo-v2.svg "catholic-mom-logo-v2")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) [![search-icon](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/search-icon.svg)](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2019/06/28/3-steps-to-shining-your-light-online/#) [MEDIA](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/tag/media) # 3 Steps to Shining your Light Online Jun 28, 2019 6:30:19 PM  |  by [Lisa Henley Jones](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/lisa-henley-jones) ![featured image](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/0628-LJones-3-Steps-to-Shining-your-Light-Online-CM-Option2.png) [!["3 steps to shining your light online" by Lisa Henley Jones (CatholicMom.com)](http://catholicmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/0628-LJones-3-Steps-to-Shining-your-Light-Online-CM-Option2.png)](http://catholicmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/0628-LJones-3-Steps-to-Shining-your-Light-Online-CM-Option2.png) Image created by the author in Canva. All rights reserved.[/caption] Close your eyes – think about going on Facebook or Twitter and scrolling through your feed. Imagine the typical posts you encounter. Now think about the comments on the most engaging posts. What do you feel? Dread … confusion … sadness … anger? We don’t need studies to tell us that individual are feeling more isolated and depressed after visiting social media than ever before. Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram feeds are filled with divisiveness, arguments, superficiality, jealousy, and anger. Despite this, social media is continuing to become even more engrained in our culture. What do we do? Do we leave Facebook? Do we remove ourselves from this part of society? You might be tempted. I know at times I’m tempted to leave. But the simple answer is – we can’t. We must be present. We cannot abandon what Pope Benedict calls the “Digital Continent” to the darkness permeating our society. Christians are called to be the light in the world. Imagine a world in which Christians shined with the light of God’s love on social media, one post at a time. Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram would reflect love, truth, understanding, and -- most importantly -- mercy. If each of us made an effort to live our Christian calling in the midst of the negativity and ugliness, we could make a huge impact. A tidal wave. There are more than 72 million Catholics in the United States and 1.2 billion across the globe. And if we work together with other fellow Christians, that number jumps even higher. That’s a huge tidal wave. So how do we create this tidal wave? By tithing our social media posts, engaging with other as in real life, and by showing mercy online. **Tithing our Social Media Posts.** I challenge you to dedicate at least 10% of your social media posts to God. The way you do it should be as unique as you are. Overt, subtle, witty, serious, grateful, abstract, personal, evangelizing, spiritual, funny, joyful ... be you!! It can be as simple as “checking in” at church or sharing your favorite scripture, quote, meme, prayer, reflection, or whatever speaks to you. Invite your social media followers to observe how your faith is intertwined into your life. **Engage as you do in real life.** When you run into a person in real life and hear their “news” do you give them a thumbs up or a heart? Probably not. You say "Congratulations" or "I’m so sorry" or "Were you scared on that roller coaster?" So why not online?  Slow your scroll and just talk with your Facebook friends as if they were right in front of you. **Show Mercy to Others.** We need to avoid contributing to the negativity that tempts us to leave social media. When you feel it necessary to disagree or correct someone online, take a pause and prayerfully consider how you respond. Avoid piling on or saying something about someone you wouldn’t say to them if they were right in front of you. And remember, sometimes the best response is no response at all. My pastor recently said about social media: > Like any man-made thing, social media is neither good nor bad in and of itself. It’s how we use it that makes the difference. If we use it to tear people down, to destroy them, to exact our pound of flesh, then it’s a bad thing. IF we use it to build people up, if we use it to spread the Good News, if we use it to show our Christian faith, then it’s a good thing. We have the opportunity and possibly the responsibility to shift the tone of the online space. We can shine with the light of God’s love by sharing the Good News, being personal and authentic, and showing mercy to others in our online community. The power of social media in our society is expanding. Rather than abandon it, hide from it or shut it out, we need to engage and be present! Not just be present, but to live our Joy in Christ and light up the Digital Continent with God’s love for all. [![tech talk redesign](http://catholicmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/tech-talk-redesign.png)](http://catholicmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/tech-talk-redesign.png)   ### **[Read more of our Tech Talk columns.](http://catholicmom.com/category/tech-talk/)** --- *Copyright 2019 Lisa Henley Jones* ### Share this article [![Share on Facebook](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/facebook-24x24.png)](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2019%2F06%2F28%2F3-steps-to-shining-your-light-online%2F%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dfacebook) [![Share on Twitter](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/twitter-24x24.png)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2019%2F06%2F28%2F3-steps-to-shining-your-light-online%2F%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2019%2F06%2F28%2F3-steps-to-shining-your-light-online%2F%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=3%20Steps%20to%20Shining%20your%20Light%20Online) [![Share on Email](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/email-24x24.png)](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2019%2F06%2F28%2F3-steps-to-shining-your-light-online%2F%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail%20&body=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2019%2F06%2F28%2F3-steps-to-shining-your-light-online%2F%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail) ** #### About the Author ![Lisa Henley Jones](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/Contriubutors/LISA%20HENLEY%20JONES.png) ### [Lisa Henley Jones](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/lisa-henley-jones) Lisa Henley Jones is a wife, mom, native Texan, and parish communications director. She enjoys reading, walking, going on date nights, and cheering on her kids in their activities. As a social media consultant, Lisa teaches Catholic parishes to engage, inspire, and evangelize on social media. Find her blog at Of Sound Mind & Spirit and her social media course at Parish Social Media. ## Related Blog Articles [ STYLE Savvy: A Style for All Seasons Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/style-savvy-a-style-for-all-seasons) [ First Sacrament Books: Sowing the Springtime Seeds of Sacramental Celebrations Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2014/05/19/first-sacrament-books-sowing-the-springtime-seeds-of-sacramental-celebrations) [ New Jersey High School, Salesian Sisters Seek to Rebuild Destroyed Chapel Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2018/05/19/new-jersey-high-school-salesian-sisters-seek-to-rebuild-destroyed-chapel/) ## Comments ## Donate now [![Support Catholic Mom](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545) [![CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png?width=1806&height=731&name=CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png "CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) ##### Subscribe to Catholic Momcast on iTunes or Spotify [![itunes-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/itunes-logo-black.svg)](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/catholic-momcast/id1362352357)[![spotify-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/spotify-logo-black.svg)](https://open.spotify.com/show/15CoipHL7z61IDcYErV0b8?si=hqaQJSxDQgq7S1hxCwsoxQ) ##### CatholicMom on Social Networks [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) ##### About Catholic Mom [Who We Are](https://www.catholicmom.com/about-us) [Contact Us](https://www.catholicmom.com/contact) [Support CatholicMom.com](https://www.catholicmom.com/support-us)   ##### Associated Links [Holy Cross Family Ministries](https://www.hcfm.org/) [Family Rosary](https://www.familyrosary.org/) [Family Theater Productions](https://www.familytheater.org/) [Congregation of the Holy Cross](https://www.holycrossusa.org/) [Father Patrick Peyton, C.S.C.](https://www.fatherpeyton.org/) [The Peyton Institute for Domestic Church Life](https://www.peytonfamilyinstitute.org/) ### **Stay connected!** Don’t miss a thing! Sign up to receive our free daily digest email. Copyright © 2026 CatholicMom.com. All Rights Reserved.