[CITASA] Pope Benedict on social networking sites: blessing and warning

[Barry Wellman]

>From the Associated Press, Nicle Winfield,  Jan 24/09:

"Pope Benedict XVI... launch[ed] his own YouTube channel
[www.youtube.com/vatican.it] ... to broaden [his] audience while also
giving the Holy See better control over the papal image online....
Benedict welcome viewers to this 'great family that knows no borders.'

"The site .. was launched the same day the pontiff praised as a 'gift to
humanty' the benefits of social networking sites such as Facebook and
MySpace in forging friendships and understanding.

"But Benedict also warned that virtual socializing had its risks, saying
that 'obsessive' online networking could isolate people from real social
interaction and broaden the digital divide by further marginalizing
people."

/end story

So, all of you folks reading this email on your iBerry while at Church,
put it away now!!

Happy Chinese New Year to All,

 Barry Wellman
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  S.D. Clark Professor of Sociology, FRSC              NetLab Director
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