Digital missionary: The bane of hate-filled speech on social media

Given the prominent role that social media has come to play in daily life, Father José Juan Montalvo, known as “Padre Borre,” has called for reflection on the impact that criticism, mockery, and hate speech can have on the emotional well-being of young people.

In an interview with EWTN News Español, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News, the founder of digital ministry for the Archdiocese of Monterrey in Mexico acknowledged that virtual platforms “are already part of our lives; they are yet another space where we interact, relate to each other, and seek to feel part of something.”

The priest from the Archdiocese of Monterrey also noted that these spaces offer “good things” such as receiving messages of support and finding communities that provide companionship, but he warned that “today, it has become all too easy for us to criticize on social media.”

This happens, he explained, because behind a screen, people can “write things that we would likely never dare to say to someone face-to-face,” without fully grasping “the harm we might cause.”

Learning to place less weight on social media

According to Montalvo, one of the primary risks in digital interaction arises when people attach too much importance to the feedback they receive to the point where “our self-esteem begins to depend on the approval of others,” through likes and comments.

He warned that this pursuit of recognition can even lead to the creation of “a persona, a version of our life that we wish to present,” which is far removed from reality.

Consequently, even if a person receives positive comments, “a single, deeply hurtful remark is enough to occupy his thoughts for the entire day.”

In light of this, the priest suggested taking stock of the place that digital platforms hold in our daily lives, noting that “it’s not a matter of getting off social media, but rather learning to use it without neglecting our lives outside of it.”

The hope that Christ offers

Montalvo urged people to pay attention to those going through a difficult time, noting that social media can also serve as a tool for identifying warning signs such as when someone “undergoes a significant change in behavior, expresses feelings of loneliness, says they can no longer cope, or feels that his life lacks meaning.”

In such situations, he emphasized the importance of reaching out, listening, and letting these individuals know that their worth as persons “doesn’t depend on social media.”

“You are not worth more because you have many followers, nor are you worth less because no one ‘liked’ your post,” he emphasized.

He also noted that digital missionaries have the task of conveying a message of hope rooted in faith to young people, reminding them that “we are loved by God for who we are — not for what we appear to be, nor for what others think of us.”

This story was first published by EWTN News Español, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.