How Can Exposure to Violent Imagery on Social Media Impact Mental Health, Particularly Among Marginalized Groups?

How can exposure to violent imagery on social media impact mental health, particularly among marginalized groups?

Exposure to violent imagery on social media, such as the widespread sharing of traumatic videos like the murder of George Floyd, can lead to significant mental health repercussions. A 2020 study conducted shortly after this event found that young Black men who viewed such content exhibited symptoms of acute stress disorder. If these symptoms were assessed in a clinical setting, many might have met the criteria for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Although research on the effects of violent social media content on other populations is limited, the psychological impact of repeated exposure to traumatic imagery is an area that warrants further investigation. The ease with which violent content circulates online today contrasts with earlier internet eras when such material was more challenging to access. This ubiquity, combined with the indiscriminate sharing of distressing content—often fueled by anxiety or a desire to remain informed—raises critical concerns about collective trauma and the long-term mental health effects of online witnessing.

This Ask the Expert is an edited excerpt from the course, ‘The Effects of Social Media Use: A Review of Ethical, Clinical, and Supervisory Considerations,’ presented by Ian Bonner, PsyD and Valerie Velarde, PsyD