Social media and the romanticization of violence

Barely two months apart, two school shootings have shattered the illusion of safety in our educational institutions. Authorities are considering the theory that the young suspects may have been “exposed to a lot of violence online.”

The Zamboanga shooting even “upped the ante” from the Tacloban incident when it was broadcast live by the suspect who was wearing a camera and live streaming as he moved from classroom to classroom.

One could not help but be reminded of an extremist’s demonstration of violence performed for an audience. The idea that these incidents were probably premeditated and well-planned is scary.

We have become accustomed to debating social media’s familiar harms: the spread of misinformation, the erosion of privacy, the anxiety and depression that come with compulsive scrolling. But as these tragic events unfold, a more disturbing question demands our attention: what, then, must be done — and soonest?

The connection between exposure and action is not abstract. Studies have shown that constant exposure to violent and toxic content on social media can desensitize young minds.

When children consume hours of graphic content — whether real-world violence captured on video or the simulated brutality of online games — the line between virtual and reality begins to blur. What was once unthinkable becomes normalized. What was once horrifying becomes content. Violence glorified and romanticized.

Social media platforms have become the new playground, and like any playground, they shape the children who inhabit them. But unlike the schoolyards of our youth, these digital spaces are unregulated, algorithm-driven and designed for maximum engagement — regardless of the cost.

The very features that make social media addictive — instant feedback, viral sharing, the dopamine hit of views and likes — are the same features that can transform a troubled teenager’s dark fantasy into a livestreamed spectacle.

The recent spate of school violence demands that we confront an uncomfortable truth: social media is not safe. While it connects and empowers, it also exposes our children to a relentless stream of violence that erodes their moral boundaries and, in the most tragic cases, provides a blueprint for destruction.

Regulating access for minors is long overdue. Government must pass legislation prohibiting children under a certain age from using social media and compel platforms to enforce strict age verification protocols.

Consequently, platforms must have accountability to society. There needs to be clear policies, standards, and guidelines for content regulation, and the consistent imposition of proportionate sanctions and penalties for violations.

Government must invest in digital literacy — not just for students, but for parents and teachers who struggle to navigate a world their own childhoods never prepared them for.

Schools must integrate discussions about ethical and moral considerations of content consumption into their curricula. Finally, communities and families must work together with authorities to address the root causes that social media exploits: bullying, isolation, mental health struggles and poverty.

Ultimately, social media remains a tool — a powerful one, but just a tool nonetheless. Yet tools can be dangerous when placed in unsteady and unstable hands. We do not allow children to handle firearms; neither should we allow them unfettered access to platforms that can shape their minds in ways we are only beginning to understand.

The choice is simple: regulate responsibly or continue to pay the price in young lives lost to violence that was, in part, learned and amplified through the very devices we place in their hands.