Religious leaders and mental health experts in the Dominican Republic are raising urgent concerns about the deteriorating moral landscape in digital content and its profound effects on younger generations. The Catholic Church, represented by Monsignor José Amable Durán and Father José Luis Cruz, identifies the normalization of explicit lyrics in urban music and unfiltered vulgar content on social platforms as a primary catalyst for behavioral and emotional disorders among children and adolescents.
Monsignor Durán, auxiliary bishop of Santo Domingo, emphasized that this issue transcends religious doctrine, touching upon fundamental aspects of social morality. He articulated that music and language were originally conceived for positive expression but are now being weaponized to promote moral disorder, irresponsible behavior, and explicit sexuality. The prelate directly linked the current epidemic of teenage pregnancies to early exposure to morally damaging musical content consumed even within family environments.
The debate extends beyond mere content criticism to address the technological paradigm shift that has enabled this crisis. Father Cruz, rector of the Catholic University of Santo Domingo, highlighted the contrast with previous decades when regulatory mechanisms in traditional media prevented mass dissemination of harmful content. The internet’s borderless nature has created an essentially ungovernable digital ecosystem where children access explicit material without restrictions.
Psychological perspectives from family therapist Yesmín Meyer corroborate these concerns, noting that negative role models from urban music and influencers promote violence, sexism, and damaging gender stereotypes. These influences fundamentally shape the behavioral patterns and social roles that young people adopt during their formative years.
All experts converge on the irreplaceable role of parental guidance and digital literacy rather than advocating for absolute censorship. They stress that parents must implement conscious content filters and foster critical thinking skills, acknowledging that social media is permanently embedded in modern life. The solution requires a multifaceted approach combining responsible parenting, ethical content creation, platform accountability, and educated consumption.