Last week, Rev. Professor Emanoil Băbuș delivered a lecture titled “Are You Real or Virtual?” in Brașov. According to Lumina Newspaper, he spoke to young people about the dangers of the digital environment, which can lead to screen addiction and, over time, the loss of Christian values.
“We spend energy for one purpose: the ecstasy of self-importance. The creators of digital technology know human psychology well, especially our ‘desperate’ need to be recognized,” said Fr. Emanoil Băbuș.
He discussed the rise of “cognitive capitalism” and “affective capitalism,” which focus on capturing users’ attention and creating monetizable digital profiles. The constant use of smartphones and social media fosters narcissism and makes the real world feel harsher than the virtual one.
“In 2010, ‘cognitive capitalism’ was inaugurated—tracking internet users’ habits to build profiles that can be monetized. This was followed by ‘affective capitalism,’ based solely on capturing attention through digital means,” he explained.
“Likes can make us feel like ‘kings of the world.’ They give us the illusion of greatness. To receive this ‘supreme good,’ one must give likes in return. We all place ourselves in front of mirrors that reflect only the positive image of those who look into them. But in reality, such mirrors do not exist.”
Fr. Băbuș warned that internet algorithms can profoundly influence human consciousness. To guard against this, he recommended vigilance, discernment, prayer, and humility.
Especially after the COVID-19 pandemic, the internet and computers have become essential to everyday life. However, their influence can be harmful to both the soul and mental health.
A New Monarchy: The Screen
Fr. Emanoil Băbuș emphasized how digitalization has led to a “monarchy of the screen,” where images become autonomous products and human relationships—including family life—grow increasingly fragile.
“Gradually, digitalization has revealed a new world—‘hyper’ in many ways—where everything changes rapidly. This brings with it hyperconsumption, hyperactivity, and what we now call ‘a lack of time,’” he explained.
“One consequence of these changes is the weakening of the human person, who has become a mere consumer. Family relationships have also become more and more fragile.”
Among the outcomes, he listed hyperactivity, burnout, and depression. People’s lives have become a “hall of mirrors” in which many are willing to lose themselves in digital distractions, neglecting spiritual needs.
“Another result is the urgent drive for performance, which generates burnout and depression. Gradually, the real world was absorbed into the ‘world of screens,’ and the image became an autonomous product, independent of reality and born solely from human creativity,” said Fr. Băbuș.
“Thus, a new monarchy has been established—that of the screen—accompanied by addiction, the constant desire to do something on a screen.”
Exaggerated Self-Image
Fr. Prof. Dr. Emanoil Băbuș warned that screens and social media have become a form of global control, hypnotizing users and creating addiction. What began as platforms for open communication has become a quest for endless validation.
“Because of this constant self-display on virtual networks, we now present our lives as if on billboards—to be seen socially. This causes a mutation of self-esteem and a regression of civilization, as we repeatedly, endlessly seek approval and applause,” he said.
“Through endless exchanges of pleasantries in the digital space, we fall into a flattery that seeks empty praise. This system has subtly brought about the atomization of the human being—what I would call a ‘fable’ of social relationships and imaginary friends invented by platforms and quickly adopted without critical discernment.”
Turning Likes into Spiritual Practice
To counter these effects, Fr. Băbuș recommends turning “likes” into spiritual practices, such as Bible reading and stresses the need for discernment in technology use.
“Today, we can’t live without our mobile phones—devices that have been called the ‘new golden calf.’ Beyond their usefulness for communication, they have also become attractive objects through their function of self-worship, especially with the help of emoticons,” he noted.
“We live a connected life and cannot disconnect. But we must not forget that without real deeds, faith is dead. That is why we must free ourselves from the compulsion to give likes.”
He emphasized that the virtual must never replace reality and that life should be balanced and humbled.
In closing, Fr. Emanoil Băbuș advised careful management of one’s thoughts, awareness of the dangers of digital validation addiction, and the importance of disconnecting to maintain the unity of body and soul.
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