Through technology, information is able to be delivered at record speeds with just a click of a button. However, with more access to information, children can more easily be exposed to traumatic events, even those happening hundreds of miles away. Research using brain scans shows that simply watching news coverage of disasters can raise children’s anxiety and put them at risk for post-traumatic stress symptoms, such as sleep disturbance, intrusive thoughts about the trauma, or emotional distress.
Over the past 10 years, there has been an increase of traumatic events such as school shootings, natural disasters, and terrorism, increasing the likelihood of traumatic exposure for the average youth in the United States. For example, children today will face three times as many climate-related disasters as their grandparents.
Why is exposure to mass traumatic events through social media harmful?
- Constant exposure: Social media is easily accessible and instantly updated in real time with new information, which leaves the potential for constant exposure to harmful or traumatic content repeatedly.
- Risk of vicarious trauma: Seeing traumatic images or videos online can be discomforting and confusing. Vicarious trauma is the accumulated effects of exposure to someone else’s trauma. Vicarious trauma can ultimately lead to anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress symptoms. Research suggests that sharing videos rather than just viewing videos of traumatic events increases the risk for post-traumatic stress.
- Engaging nature of social media: Social media and online news articles are designed to keep viewers’ attention and keep them engaged and interacting with the content. This is particularly problematic when considering research suggesting that social media is more likely to display graphic images/scenes than those typically broadcasted by traditional news sources.
Long-term traumatic stress experienced during childhood can have a negative impact on physical and mental health. Research has shown that severe trauma can negatively impact comprehension, memorization, and organization, which can all affect a child’s performance in school. It is important to note however that not all children and adolescents who are exposed to traumatic events are negatively affected.
How can you help your children process these mass traumatic events on social media?
- Talk about it: This can be a good opportunity to start a conversation with your child about what they are viewing online.Tell your child the facts of what happened without going into frightening details, using language they can easily understand. Listen to your child. Take their concerns seriously, and give your child the space to process and express their feelings.
- Emphasize the positive: You can highlight stories of heroism or encouragement to counterbalance the negative news or tragic event.
- Limit exposure: It can be a good idea to monitor and limit time on social media, especially for young children and if you notice your child or adolescent is becoming more distressed.
- Provide reassurance: Reassure your child that the event is over, happened far away from here (if that is the case), and they are safe.
- Self-care: Encourage your child to find ways to practice self-care. This includes doing an activity or hobby that they enjoy, eating healthy, getting physical exercise, or hanging out with their friends or siblings.
Additional Resources for Families
- Childhood Exposure to Violence - https://www.healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/at-home/Pages/Crime-Violence-and-Your-Child.aspx
- How to Talk With Kids About Tragedies & Other Traumatic News Events - https://www.healthychildren.org/English/family-life/Media/Pages/Talking-To-Children-About-Tragedies-and-Other-News-Events.aspx
- Tips for Talking to Children & Youth After Traumatic Events - https://www.samhsa.gov/sites/default/files/tips-talking-to-children-after-traumatic-event.pdf
- Helping Children Cope After a Traumatic Event- https://childmind.org/guide/helping-children-cope-after-a-traumatic-event/
- Parenting a Child Who Has Experienced Trauma - https://www.childwelfare.gov/pubpdfs/child-trauma.pdf
Worried about how your child is doing socially, emotionally, or behaviorally? The Child Study Center at Virginia Tech is a specialty research, service, and training facility devoted to the comprehensive assessment, treatment, prevention, and understanding of problems of childhood and adolescence. For more information and to learn about our assessment and research services, please visit: https://childstudycenter.wixsite.com/childstudycenter.
