Critical Thinking and Social Media

Globalization of Superficiality The contemporary society has suffered the cursing benefit of the global connection and the information technology that allows for the ease of communication in a fast mode and indeed, in a real time manner. The progress, though widely welcome and changed the society in significant measure over the last decade, has come with curse to the same society that it has helped change.

The curse or challenges of instant communication specifically are numerous and wide in range and scope but this paper will limit itself to the jurisdiction of critical thinking and deep reflection on issues with the Jesuit perspective in the issues. The Jesuit perspective has a strong foundation of seeing God in everything they do and as Fr.

Adolfo puts it, "exercising an imagination which grasps reality and involves a refusal to let go until we get beneath the surface." Social media has provided platform where people share their thought and also allows other people from all over the world to give their thought on the shared thought. This has seen many people sharing and talking to people from all corners of the globe, people giving suggestions to people from across the world.

Sadly, the suggestions given in response and the thoughts expressed on social media rarely have any serious thought behind them. They do not seek to see the underlying meaning in the words expressed before they respond and their response is not in any way try to bring out the reality in the contemporary society in line with the Jesuits perspective.

Since most are casually expressed without proper research and reflection on the effect that the piece of advice or update given on social media may have on the person reading it in a different part of the globe, they do not seek to show the face of God in their arguments or responses.

This lack of Godliness has led to harsh consequences in various occasions with the person getting societal reprimand, rejection by pees and even institutions, costing one the dignity they deserved and in some cases having to come face-to-face with the legal proceedings due to the postings done on social media. For a piece written that is meant to go social and global to cause such unforeseen consequences, it is apparent that there was no serious reflection made before the individual posting the material online.

The reason for the lack of serious reflection and critical thinking is the lack of time to carry out some research or consider what one is about to say and lack of looking beneath the mere words that one writes and this is because the social media does not have prudence for God and the intentions that God has for interaction between people. The Jesuits believe in getting beneath the surface of everything one sees or does, and this is what is lacking in the social media.

It moves so fast and everyone is in a hurry to have the first spot to speak and also be the first person to comment on a posting done by another without prudent consideration of what lies beneath the surface of what one says. The second reason is the virtual nature of the relationship between the two people interacting, there is no physical touch hence no due consideration made before saying whatever it is one wants to tell the world or a given individual.

The other reason is the frequent non-academic nature of the material posted or the casual nature of the topics discussed on social media makes many not give keen considerations while answering to such discussions. This lack of imagination that brings forth reality on issues should not get into the college education system.

There is need for the college students to remain firm and always practice critical thinking and deep reflection over matters in this instantaneous society in line with the need of God for us to see Him in all we do. In order for the college students to remain focused and critical in their thinking, there is need for first self-regulation on the number of issues they can talk about and the speed at which they respond to issues.

Secondly, they need to seek the correct interpretation of each and every posting or.