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“Don’t get too carried away”: Zambian Catholic Archbishop Urges Youths to Exercise Wisdom on Social Media

Credit: Radio Icengelo
Nicholas Waigwa

By Nicholas Waigwa

Lusaka, 20 January, 2026 / 5:37 pm (ACI Africa).

The Archbishop of Zambia’s Catholic Archdiocese of Ndola has called on young people to be careful when engaging with social media, cautioning that blindly trusting online content can undermine one’s ability to make sound judgment.

In his address during Holy Mass for Catholic University students on Sunday, January 18, Archbishop Benjamin Phiri emphasized the need for discernment before trusting information or advice on social media platforms.

“Beware of the internet and social media. Don’t get too carried away by it. It is just a show, for the most part,” Archbishop Phiri said during the event that was held at the Copperbelt University (CBU) Riverside Campus in Kitwe within his Metropolitan See.

He noted that technology could be harmful when digital opinions and other content on social media platforms take the place of Holy Scriptures and personal discernment, saying, “The faith on which we should rely, sometimes we attach it so much to social media—even more than the Bible, more than Holy Scripture.”

“Anything that is written on social media is believed by everybody,” said the Catholic Church leader, who started his Episcopal ministry in January 2011 as Auxiliary Bishop of Zambia’s Chipata Diocese.

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He cautioned youths against allowing social media platforms to shape their faith, values, and life decisions without verifying the credibility of some online commentators whose content often spreads rapidly among young people.

He said, “How do you know those who have written it? What qualifies them to advise us on those various topics that they tackle and advise us on?”

“Some of the people who write those things cannot even distinguish their left hand from their right. Yet here you are, a very educated person, hanging on to whatever they have said. Use your judgment. Be wise,” Archbishop Phiri urged the Catholic students during the Holy Mass he presided over on January 18.

While acknowledging the important contribution of artificial intelligence technology, the Zambian Catholic Archbishop, who has been at the helm of Ndola Archdiocese since June 2024, also cautioned against constant dependence on digital platforms, warning that they could gradually erode young people’s critical thinking capacity.

 “I’m proud of artificial intelligence, but some years from now, we might have brains that will have shrunk because they are no longer able to think and reason on their own,” the Zambian Catholic Church leader observed.

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He encouraged the Catholic students he was addressing to take advantage of their time in institutions of higher learning as an opportunity to form both their intellect and character for the greater good of society.

He said, “Work hard, concentrate, and remain focused. This is a moment of formation—not only academic formation, but also learning how to live in a bigger community, apart from our families. It is from this community that all of us are going to develop the gifts we have to serve the community well.”

“The quality of the graduates we would like to see is one that gives courage, encouragement, and hope for tomorrow. Those of us who are of a senior age have done our part. It will make us happy to know that we are leaving the future in secure hands,” Archbishop Phiri said.

Nicholas Waigwa

Nicholas Waigwa is a Kenyan multimedia journalist and broadcast technician with a professional background in creating engaging news stories and broadcasting content across multiple media platforms. He is passionate about the media apostolate and Catholic Church communication.

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