Social media has become an outlet for many people to raise awareness for instances of oppression and adversity that otherwise might’ve gone unnoticed. While some posts contain information and content that encourage consumers to feel empathetic and change their mindsets, other posts divulge too much information for the sake of the shocking effect it’ll have. This is known as trauma porn, or “the perverse fascination with other people’s misfortune,” according to Incite Journal.
The use of trauma porn can be detrimental for both its consumers as well as the individuals involved in the trauma being broadcasted. For starters, excessive trauma porn on social media can desensitize consumers to the gruesome issues it conveys. Constantly seeing sensitive photos and videos of hate crimes and assault will eventually feel almost “normal” to social media users. As the discomfort wears off, they’ll be less motivated to get involved in the issue.
For those who continue to be shocked by trauma porn, their mental health may take a toll. Pictures and videos capture individuals in their most vulnerable state, and circulating them can trigger responses in those who are mentally unable to handle such content.
Trauma porn is also dehumanizing to those that are involved, either directly or indirectly and those who have experienced something similar situations. Take George Floyd, for example. His death was captured on camera then posted and reposted all over social media. Written accounts about his brutal death and his final words were unsettling enough, yet his friends and family were subjected to endless reminders of his suffering whenever they went online. Others who lost loved ones to police brutality likely suffered from the global sharing of this footage, too.
While some social media outlets and individual posts contain content warnings, some trauma porn still manages to get through the cracks. Even with a content warning, however, people may feel obligated to view the sensitive content because the current generation emphasizes the importance of seeing hardship in its raw form. While it’s important to know about global issues, one doesn’t have to physically see it in order to understand the degree of its severity.
Supporters of trauma porn believe it’s essential to raising awareness and motivation to take action for these issues; however, the key to trauma porn’s effectiveness is the discomfort it strikes in its consumers. Discomfort can be just as easily instilled through written accounts of abuse and other issues. While trauma porn can be voyeuristic, more mild depictions of traumatic experiences also respect the individuals involved and are less likely to catch consumers off guard and trigger them.
There are healthier and more effective ways to raise awareness. Survivors and witnesses can share their experiences through written or oral speech, if they are comfortable doing so. Words can depict gruesome events just as well as physical images can, and they don’t exploit those involved in the scenario.
The next time you come across a sensitive image or video online, refrain from sharing it. The effect it may have on your followers might do more harm than good.