Maybe you’ve been spending lots of time keeping up with the news. Every headline seems to bring worse updates. Each day, you see reports, images, and videos from different war zones. You may live in a safe area. Yet you can’t help but feel fearful, stressed, and sad. When you go on social media, your algorithm might show you videos related to current events related to conflicts around the world. You can rapidly scroll through these videos and see harrowing scenes that stick with you long after you put your phone away.
Exposure to conflict on social media can exacerbate trauma symptoms in those who have survived violent conflicts. Furthermore, even people who have not experienced these events personally can struggle with poor mental health because of this exposure. Here’s why images of conflicts on social media can be so psychologically damaging.
Triggering Psychological Distress
When you’re exposed to conflict on social media, your brain does not clearly distinguish between reality and the images on your screen. You might experience an adrenaline rush and a cortisol spike when you see photos and videos from war zones. Furthermore, you may be exposed to particularly gory imagery that triggers intense psychological distress. These images can linger in your mind for days and even keep you up at night.
Flashbacks to Lived Experiences
Maybe you or someone you love has survived a violent conflict. Perhaps you had to leave an area because of rising political violence that spiraled into conflict. If this is the case, seeing conflict on social media can mentally bring you back to those moments. Even if you have never been affected by conflict personally, you may have been exposed to other forms of violence throughout your life. If so, seeing this kind of content can bring up painful memories of violence from earlier in life.
“Vicarious” Trauma
Your capacity for empathy can make you feel sad and angry when you see images of people suffering through conflicts thousands of miles away, even when you’re safe at home. If you’re frequently looking at these images online, you may experience what’s sometimes known as “vicarious” trauma. You might feel as though you’ve personally been traumatized by what you’ve seen, although you’re not in any physical danger.
Negative Outlook
Viewing conflicts through the lens of social media can lead to a skewed perception of the world. This does not mean we should ignore the suffering of others. However, it’s important to look out for positive news and updates, too, which are often hard to find on social media. Additionally, despite what you may see on social media, we still live in the most peaceful time period in human history. Yet violent content on social can receive more engagement, so people have a higher incentive to post disturbing images and videos. Professional media outlets also receive more attention with dramatic coverage of violence around the globe.
Anxiety and Depression
In the long run, spending extensive time viewing violent content on social media can contribute to anxiety and depression. If you already have one of these conditions, you might notice your symptoms worsening after looking at conflict images online. Perhaps you’ve never had symptoms of anxiety or depression before, but after spending more time than usual on social media, you’re noticing that you have a low mood. In this scenario, it’s a good idea to cut back on your time online and see if this lifts your spirits.
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Are you concerned about your exposure to conflict on social media? Talking to a therapist can help ease your anxiety. Contact us to discuss telehealth and in-person trauma therapy options.