When Violence Goes Viral
Talking with kids about traumatic events online.
Posted September 11, 2025 | Reviewed by Margaret Foley
Political and interpersonal violence is not new. What is unique to this generation is the proliferation of graphic content online. Raw footage of political assassinations, war crimes, racialized violence, and sexual assault can spread quickly in the wake of acts of violence, popping up in young people’s social feeds without warning or context.
The psychological toll of online violence
These images aren’t just painful to watch. They can take a significant toll on our mental health. Research consistently demonstrates that media coverage of traumatic events can cause psychological distress in viewers. After the Boston marathon bombing, for example, repeated engagement with bombing-related media coverage was associated with higher acute stress than direct exposure. More recently, studies have found associations between news exposure to school shootings and generalized depressive and PTSD symptoms among adolescents.
Brendesha Tynes, a researcher at the University of Southern California, has studied the relationship between repeated exposure to race-related traumatic events online, such as police shootings and immigrant detentions, and mental health outcomes. Her team found that exposure to these online events, especially those involving people who share their racial/ethnic identity , was associated with higher levels of depressive and PTSD symptoms. Still, she emphasizes “increased exposure to traumatic events online, whether they involve members of one’s own racial-ethnic group or those of other racial-ethnic groups, are related to poor mental health outcomes.”
In addition to raw footage, algorithms reward extreme “hot takes” and endless remixes of content that often carry misinformation, disinformation, hate speech, and AI -generated content. These layers shape how young people interpret what they see and hear. Without open conversations and media literacy, this can intensify harmful impacts.
Parenting today means walking alongside our children as they navigate the emotional weight of events in their neighborhoods and in their newsfeeds. Our kids rely on us to help them make sense of what they see. That’s a heavy responsibility, especially when “making sense” of violence can feel like an impossible task in an impossible time. When we feel most wobbly ourselves, our steadiness doesn’t come from having all the answers or saying the exact right words—it comes from choosing over and over again to turn toward each other. Let’s make sure to:
We may not be able to prevent every act of violence (though let’s keep trying), but we can influence the most powerful protective factor for kids: our connection. Research consistently shows that relationships with caring adults reduce the risk of mental health challenges among children and youth who witness violence. Online violence may land differently depending on your child’s identity, geography, or lived experience, so make room for those differences.
Through conversation and connection, we can:
Respond with your child’s age and unique needs in mind
Young children need more protection from media coverage, while most teens also benefit most from conversation and coping strategies. Of course, age is not our only guide. Let your child’s individual needs, experiences, and ways of coping shape how you respond. Remember, older children and teens are more likely to encounter content directly through friends, feeds, or peers’ devices. Talking with them usually isn’t breaking the news. It’s opening the door to connection and communication.
Shield young children from media coverage and algorithmic content
For young children, now is a good time to turn off background media, avoid watching the news when kids are around, and stick to age-appropriate options. After violent events, YouTube and social media can be especially tricky ground. Lean on platforms like PBS Kids to avoid unanticipated exposure to graphic content and use tools like supervised accounts if YouTube is in play.
Talk to older kids and teens about reducing exposure
For kids more likely to encounter content on their own devices or those of their friends, brainstorm practical ways to limit exposure. Ideas include:
Acknowledge supportive uses of technology
Many adolescents turn to technology, including social media, group chats, and texting, to cope with stress, find support, and feel less alone. Encourage your teen to notice which online activities truly help them feel better and which ones start to get in the way of healthy coping. Purposeful boundaries and routines can make sure technology supports rather than disrupts the essentials we lean on in stressful times: sleep, connection, and movement.
Model appointment media consumption
Notifications are difficult for us to resist during times of relative calm, and nearly impossible during crisis. Try turning notifications off and instead check platforms on your own schedule. This gives you a chance to recover and direct your attention toward what matters most to you, not the latest alarming headline.
Talk about reassurance-seeking loops
It makes sense to look for reassurance after an act of violence. We want to know: “Will things be OK?” The challenge is that most online content fuels uncertainty and anxiety . This can lead to a loop of reassurance-seeking, ambiguity, and renewed searching—amplifying anxiety. Helping kids recognize this cycle gives them tools to step back.
Practice media literacy
In the wake of violence, the internet can become a chaotic pool of harmful content and misinformation. Slow down and be more deliberate about what you read and share. Explore resources from Common Sense Media or try the SIFT method . You might say, “Even if something is real, people online might remix it in ways that change the meaning or purposefully mislead us. Now with AI everywhere, I am extra careful about where I get information about this.”
Explore our age-by-age guidance for talking about violence .
Hopwood, T. L., & Schutte, N. S. (2017). Psychological outcomes in reaction to media exposure to disasters and large-scale violence: A meta-analysis. Psychology of Violence, 7 (2), 316–327. https://doi.org/10.1037/vio0000056
E.A. Holman, D.R. Garfin, & R.C. Silver, Media’s role in broadcasting acute stress following the Boston Marathon bombings, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 111 (1) 93-98, https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1316265110 (2014).
Martins, N., Scharrer, E., & Riddle, K. (2024). News exposure, depression, and PTSD symptoms among adolescents in the US: A case study of the Uvalde school shooting. Journal of Children and Media , 19 (3), 499–517. https://doi.org/10.1080/17482798.2024.2443664
Tynes, B. M., Willis, H. A., Stewart, A. M., & Hamilton, M. W. (2019). Race-related traumatic events online and mental health among adolescents of color. Journal of Adolescent Health , 65 (3), 371-377.
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Erin Walsh, M.A. is an educator on topics related to raising resilient children in the digital age. David Walsh, Ph.D. has worked with families and teachers for over 35 years.
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This article is part of the Bringwise Psychology Journal — daily insights on human behavior, mental health, and personal growth.