Social media, too, has begun to play a prominent role in broadcasting tragedy. The shooting of Philando Castile was streamed as it happened on Facebook Live, which figured in another violent video since then. People who were exposed to six or more daily hours of bombing-related media exposure reported higher levels of acute stress than those with direct exposure. “Unlike direct exposure to a collective trauma, which can end when the acute phase of the event is over, media exposure keeps the acute stressor active and alive in one’s mind,” the study concluded. The site also has an ambiguous policy surrounding violent videos, permitting them — now with a warning label that stops them from automatically playing — so long as users seek to “condemn” rather than “celebrate” them (two highly subjective verbs).

Source: New York Times September 10, 2016 09:56 UTC