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By: Amy Denney
“As a mental health professional, I am pleading with you not to watch the video.”
Kathleen Lyons, a licensed clinical professional counselor, penned the warning about watching the graphic video of Sonya Massey’s death on social media the day that police released body-camera video recordings to Massey’s family and then to the public online. The video has garnered around 5 million views.
Massey, a 36-year-old black woman, called 911 on July 6 because she thought someone was prowling around outside her house. She ended up being shot by a sheriff’s deputy, who has since been arrested and charged with her murder.
The audio transcript had already been released, as well as details of the shooting. There was no doubt to Lyons the video of Massey’s death would be graphic and disturbing to the point of disrupting day-to-day functioning for some who viewed it.
Lyons’ social media post went on to say: “By all means, stay informed about the matter through the many ways information is being shared, but watching the video is most likely to cause harm directly to you. Secondary trauma is real, and it is not necessary to suffer needlessly in order to honor her precious life or to understand the systemic breakdown that led to her passing.”
Bystander Trauma
Lyons told The Epoch Times that, in her experience, exposure to someone else’s trauma—whether accidentally or intentionally—can interfere with basic coping skills.
That exposure can include technology, which amplifies real-life violence and disturbing imagery—particularly because when app users watch such content, algorithms replenish their news feeds with similar content. Even accidental exposure can cause secondary trauma, which is a form of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
A psychiatric disorder that affects about six percent of the U.S. population at some point in their lives, PTSD causes intrusive thoughts, avoidance, and changes in mood, cognition, and reactivity.
Secondary trauma syndrome is a more recently understood form of PTSD that explains how those close to trauma—like public servants responding to crimes and disasters and health care workers tending to the physical and emotional needs of victims—can be affected by it.
Those who are accustomed to handling violent evidence—like criminal investigators and lawyers—are experiencing higher rates of PTSD because so much of crime is captured on camera, according to a 2021 article in Georgia State University Law Review.
The article noted research showing that the use of body-worn cameras “increases police officer burnout” and that simply watching these viral videos can lead to PTSD or similar symptoms of anxiety.
Viral Violence
Body-worn cameras are becoming more commonplace, as are bystander videos of police violence, and the content often goes viral. Policies regarding how and to whom body-worn camera footage is released vary by jurisdiction.
Anyone who repeatedly watches videos of deadly events is at risk. “One study found that some people who repeatedly viewed footage of deadly events sustained more trauma than people who witnessed the events in real life,” the Georgia State University Law Review article stated.
“Due to the shift from traditional news to social media, we can now watch violent stories and graphic images in ‘unedited horrific detail,’” the author added.
Individuals most at risk tend to be those who doomscroll, according to a study published in June in Computers in Human Behavior Reports. Doomscrolling refers to aimless negative news consumption, and it’s become associated with elevated risk-taking, problematic media use, fear of missing out, and future anxiety, the study noted.
Those already struggling from anxiety, as well as those who tend to have less self-control and more cynicism and neuroticism, are more likely to partake in doom scrolling. Those who continue to expose themselves to violent content may find the habit can fuel anxiety and low mood and even alter their perception of life’s meaning.
“These mental health difficulties can exacerbate stress and feelings of insecurity, which deteriorates proactive engagement with activities consistent with one’s interests, values, strengths, and life meanings,” according to the study.
Concerns for Young Viewers
Lyons noted that repeated exposure to violent content is particularly concerning when it comes to children and adolescents.
“Young people are particularly vulnerable because anything they view feels close to them. They associate themselves with these stories because they are still so ego-driven,” she said. “They are working out the ‘what if’ it happens to me … and they can become very traumatized.”
Social media platforms often add warning labels to graphic content. A representative from Meta told The Epoch Times in an email that its apps can restrict the ability of users under 18 to view such content.
“We’ve developed more than 50 tools and resources to support teens and their parents, and we’ve spent over a decade developing policies and technology to address content that breaks our rules or could be seen as sensitive. Earlier this year, we announced additional protections that are focused on the types of content teens see on Instagram and Facebook,” the spokesperson said.
The company said it “age-gates” violent or disturbing content, which involves a pop-up window that asks users to verify that they are 18 or older. Age gates are used for content that includes tobacco and gambling.
Unwelcome Exposure
Nick Marchigiani, a 19-year-old college student, said safety efforts won’t stop all teens from viewing violent videos. Much like pornography that has dedicated online spaces, there are pages that feature videos of school fights and self-harm.
Even if a child doesn’t want to see graphic content on their own phone or computer, Marchigiani said friends may trick them into watching videos with gore or other disturbing images. One way he’s accidentally encountered violence is on videos that begin with a cute cat or dog video and end with “jump scare” content. That is, it’s unexpectedly frightening or gory.
“Some people get a kick out of tricking you into seeing something you don’t want to see,” he said. “Other people simply like looking at it. You cannot even be ‘into’ looking for this stuff, but it can appear because someone you know enjoys this content.”
Other ways teens might encounter graphic content is when bots or other users share videos in comment threads on various apps, he noted. As a young teen, Marchigiani said he would watch anything his friends showed him because he valued bonding with them over self-preservation.
“Seeing [the videos] and liking them tells the algorithm you like more of the violent aspects of life,” he said, noting that the companies profit while teens are at risk of being emotionally stunted. “The goal is to keep you online as much as possible. It shows you things that will most definitely be harmful to you in the long run just to make a quick buck.”
‘Catch-22’ of Social Media
The U.S. Surgeon General declared a state of mental health crisis among youth in 2021 and followed it up with another in 2023 about the effects of social media on youth mental health. A 25-page advisory on social media and a section on technology use for parents accompanied the report.
One-fifth of teens reported feeling anxiety, and 17 percent reported symptoms related to depression, according to a February KFF report, a health policy research organization. The organization also reported that 55 percent of the public view teen mental health issues as a crisis.
The National Institutes of Health announced on July 30 that suicide rates among preteens—ages 8 to 12—have increased about 8 percent annually since 2008. This rise has been particularly pronounced among girls and minority populations.
Many social media platforms weren’t initially designed with children in mind, said Jasmine Hood Miller, director of family engagement and community partnerships at Common Sense Media. Digital literacy, tech company accountability, and the mental health harms of life online are unfolding in real time, she told The Epoch Times.