Pope says to give up social networking

(WWLP) - The Pope is asking Catholics to consider giving up texting and social networking sites for lent.

Pope Benedict the 16th used his YouTube address to warn against what he called "obsessive" use of electronic communication.

The Pope is suggesting that they go without texting or social networking sites like Myspace or Facebook.

Catholics generally give up something they love during Lent.

"It's a good idea. I think a lot of people are too dependant on their phones so they might as well give up something," said Reid Mihalek of Westfield.

"I think they should use them because in these days if you don't have internet you can't be really connected and do a lot of things. So these days they really need them, remarked Libbey Puskarich.

Some dioceses are also asking their patrons to stop texting all together on Fridays as a sacrifice during Lent.