TikTok, shorts and reels: social media enter the seminary

Stories, videos, shorts, reels, scripts, editing including the analysis of risks and potential of social media, short history, language, usefulness.

These are the essential elements of a workshop that Fr. Andrea Piccolo, SJ, Rector of the Interregional Seminary of Naples, and the formation team planned to organize at the request of the 6th year seminarians. “We feel the necessity to go more deeply into the language and the mode of communication of young people”, Fr. Piccolo explains, “in order to accompany them also in this major dimension of their daily life”.

The project, carried out in collaboration with the Communications Office of the Euro-Mediterranean Province of the Society of Jesus, took place in Posillipo from the 10th to the 12th of March.

Bringing their experience to the table were Caterina Rizzi, 24, a content creator and video maker with profiles of 150 thousand followers, and Francesco Chiappetta, a content creator.

“Social media is a great influencer,” Francesco highlights, “and has the ability to create community in a short time.” “It is used to create relationships, to communicate, to connect,” adds Caterina. “It is truly a valuable tool for the new evangelization.”

The beneficiaries were 19 sixth year seminarians who completed the course as residential students. They are now spending their final formative years in their dioceses, returning only for a few modules.

From spiritual direction to confession to managing even the financial aspects of a parish. “The focus on social media was our proposal. It is there that you can communicate with young people”, Nico, 27, explains “we asked for experts to work not only on the content but also on the form”. “We need to update ourselves,” adds Joseph, 34, “to understand the potential of these tools.

A number of videos produced by the seminarians were made during the workshop, using the guidance provided for structuring, filming and editing.

Reactions

There was a great participation and enthusiasm, including the ability to get involved. There was a lot of feedback when reviewing the experience:

“One can become hooked on Social Media but it is also an opportunity, and it requires discipline to avoid becoming addicted. Not so much from fearing to betray or sell out, but simply out of a sense of personal responsibility. The workshop offered us ways to connect more creatively with others.

“I felt called to dwell in this world. The Gospel is about entering into a relationship with someone and getting in touch with the newness that transforms life. It is up to us, who experience this transformation, to use these new languages and to really enter into it”.

“These are places that must be used authentically, without trivialities and without prejudices”.

“It’s a great tool to reach someone. It is not the end in itself. It’s the dynamic as always: in the face of change, we can’t remain passive”.

“It’s an environment to be used, where one can post content and learn its language.” “Knowing these new elements allows me to help other young people. “Just asking a question is enough”.

“In this case, rather than looking at the past, we are looking to the future. It moves us forward. Are we doing this as free agents or as a community? The challenge is to create community”.

“It was an input that triggered a broader reflection on communication: how do we achieve a balance between content and form? Who are our interlocutors?”

“Authenticity and immediacy are not only valid elements for social communication, but also for reality. The attention span of people today is minimal. Learning their language can paradoxically help to be more immediate and authentic in relationships, and in preaching”.

“Getting hands-on was interesting. Among the projects, a repository of content of other valid projects”?

“The goal was certainly not to make them content creators or priests influencers,” Fr. Piccolo highlighted, “but to understand the structure of the language of young people and to try to use social media along with them, to listen to their deep questions and fears, to accompany them in reconnecting with reality, to re-think, to walk together.”