The quietening of the middle—of the many reasonable voices that can disagree but respectfully so; of the many ordinary people contributing to the marketplace of ideas, not burning it down—is a terrible side-effect of Facebook’s business model.
Social Media
Posted inFaith, Faith in Focus
It is the National Day of Prayer. Here’s how Catholic Twitter is praying.
To mark this National Day of Prayer, America asked our social media followers to share their prayer intentions and favorite ways to pray.
Posted inFaith, Faith in Focus
The USCCB parody Twitter account asked people to share when they felt least at home in the church. Catholics had a lot to say.
The invitation to share moments of exclusion and hurt at the hands of the church generated a significant response.
Posted inArts & Culture, Of Many Things
What’s on your bookshelf? Welcome to Spring Books 2021!
An introduction to all the books, new and old, profiled in our Spring Literary Review 2021.
Posted inArts & Culture, Books
Review: What if all of our screens suddenly went dark?
Since the 1970s, Don DeLillo has been the wry and cool Jeremiah of American life. His new novel, ‘Silence,’ continues that tradition.
Posted inArts & Culture, Books
Review: Can we find real community online?
Chris Stedman’s new book is the perfect guide to unpacking what identity means in the digital age.
Posted inPolitics & Society, Short Take
NFTs are leading to a new financial dystopia. Here’s why you should care.
This latest phase of capitalism has a feeling of déjà vu from its first stage—except rather than speculating on colonial land-grabs and the bodies of slaves, NFTs are making commodities of famous people and GIFs.
Posted inArts & Culture, Ideas
Dear Barack and Bruce: I’m a fan. But your new podcast is cringeworthy.
The new podcast by Bruce Springsteen and Barack Obama seemed like it would be a compelling listening experience…but instead “Renegades” is often a squirmy mess.
Posted inFaith, Jesuitical
Podcast: If St. Francis had a YouTube channel, it might look like this.
Father Casey Cole, a Franciscan priest and popular YouTuber, has pulled off what few before him have: garnered a massive Catholic following while remaining faithful, truthful and, above all, charitable on social media.
Posted inFaith, Faith and Reason
Privacy is the virtue that Americans love the most and understand the least
While we seem to take privacy seriously as a culture, in reality we allow unfettered access to our personal information in countless ways.