LOS ANGELES — In the era of viral videos depicting incidents of police brutality and mass shootings, there has been a growing culture of sharing graphic content on social media platforms. While some argue that such sharing holds those in power accountable, others are increasingly concerned about the potential negative effects on mental health, including anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Chaseedaw Giles, an audience engagement editor, finds solace in nature and offline activities as a means of disconnecting from the distressing content she encounters on social media. However, she acknowledges that excessive screen time has become an occupational hazard.
“I would tell you my screen time, but it’s a little embarrassing,” she confesses. Over the years, Giles has experienced anxiety as a result of viewing graphic content online.
“Seeing gunshot victims, seeing people lying in pools of blood, and especially seeing a lot of black men, I have a younger brother, and I think about that a lot. It bothers me a lot,” she shares.
The catalyst seemed to be the widely shared video capturing the high-profile murder of George Floyd by a police officer in 2020. Since then, such content has gone viral with alarming frequency. Giles’ experiences are not uncommon, according to Christina Harrison, a licensed clinical social worker at the UCLA Prevention Center of Excellence. Harrison explains that consuming this content vicariously can lead to adverse effects, describing it as “vicarious trauma,” where individuals who are not directly involved in the incidents can experience similar emotional and psychological responses.
Harrison said while every individual’s threshold for may differ, everyone should regularly check in with themselves when exposed to graphic content.
“When you are seeing this graphic content, what you want to do is get curious and then think about a plan,” Harrison recommends.
Pausing and reflecting gives individuals an opportunity to identify the thoughts, physical sensations, and emotional responses they are experiencing and develop a strategy for mitigating any negative impact.
Harrison suggests creating a plan of action that may involve seeking support from one’s community, and identifying specific places or activities that promote recovery and overall well-being.
Meanwhile, Giles advocates for greater mindfulness and empathy when interacting with online content.
“I think the best thing for people to do is to just be mindful of what they’re sharing and to really think about the people in those videos and their families,” she said.
As society grapples with the omnipresence of distressing content just a click away, empathy and mindfulness are a few tools to safeguard mental well-being.