Recently, school shootings and bullying have become an issue of considerable concern in communities, schools, and among parents. As it will be seen these problems have multi-causes but one of the critical causes that have often evoked debate is the media. Media violence or bullying among students through Social networks, news channels, or entertainment platforms affect how violence as well as bullying in schools is perceived.
The Effects of the Media on School Violence & Shootings
Post Columbine, school shootings while still rare have attracted a lot of media attention internationally. All sorts of incidents are reported, causing heightened insecurity among students, parents, and school staff. This is however not always safe as school shootings reported in the media sometimes would do more harm than good. Great headlines, iterations of violent images or descriptions, and biographies of the shooters may inadvertently promote the glamorous notoriety of the shootings’ culprits.
Some theoreticians have attempted to explain that the ever-growing media coverage of different shootings has the dreaded contagion effect. When coverage celebrates or escalates the shooter’s actions it expresses a dangerous message, especially to susceptible personalities in search of notoriety or ways of venting their bitterness.
It called on the media to avoid prescribing the notion that only the attacker is important and concentrate on the victims, the rescues made during the crisis and measures being taken to overcome similar calamities. The media can also discourage people from emulating the actions that make headlines by giving them less fear and more reason to find solutions.
Bullying through Social Media
Traditionally, mass media occupies a certain place, however, social networks are seen as one of the main sources of bullying. Social networking sites in the modern world such as YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat are like edged tools that indeed provide social interface but are epicenters for cyberbullying. Such platforms are particularly prevalent among the youth because anyone can hide behind a screen.
This constant and unrelenting torment that students receive online can produce horrific, far-reaching, and ultimately fatal consequences, fuelling possible depression and anxiety, and even culminating in suicide. Also, social media users are capable of spreading rumors or falsehoods such as images and threats quickly, and the victim ends up feeling that he or she is surrounded. In addition, constant attacks through the internet are always available wherever the victim is unlike the traditional school bully whom the victim can avoid at home.
Media Responsibility: What Needs to Change?
There is a great need to analyze the media’s involvement in bullying together with school shootings and its responsibilities. Here are a few steps the media can take to address its role:
Report with Sensitivity:
There is information that newspapers need to consider when covering such a horrific event as school shooting. Thus, non-sensationalist coverage, no glorification of protagonists-shooters, and victim-oriented solutions coverage in media channels are vital to portray constructive media image.
Promote Anti-Bullying Campaigns:
Media has a large influence it can facilitate positive behavior change. When only stories and campaigns promoting bullying are written and delivered the focus is on bullying and the negativity associated with it, however when other appropriate messages such as being kind, respecting mental health issues and not being afraid to stand up to the bully, the focus is on healing.
Hold Social Media Platforms Accountable:
Social media firms are not yet doing enough to tackle bullying. This consists of increasing the moderation policies, bringing out better ways to report bad cases, and availing mental health for those involved.
Highlight Positive Role Models:
By narrowing the coverage on people who survived traumatic experiences, such as bullying or threatened violence, the media can hence motivate the students to act and seek help in identifying bullying cases among students.
Moving Forward: A Collaborative Approach
There is a need for collaboration between media houses, schools, parents, and technology companies for society to effectively fight instances of bullying and school shootings. Schools should incorporate media fluency that addresses students on how to approach information critically and identify pathogenic patterns of using social media. Similarly, parents have to set up scrutiny and control their children’s usage of the Internet, as well as encourage them to discuss the risks related to turning into a bully and viewing/materializing aggression.
Because media is indeed a great power that shapes the perception of the people, it also bears great responsibility. Therefore, through better ethical reporting standards and concentration on control and awareness, the media is in a good position to help control bullying and school violence and hence make the learning institutions safer for all children.
Each and every person in this world with access to the internet needs to play their part and change the narrative – from fear and conspiracy to empathy and action. In essence, the only way is we are only capable of addressing the core causes of these terrible acts of violence.
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