First comes the violence. Then comes its rapid spread across the internet.

Sadly, 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. Let’s make sure to:

Stay connected

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:

• • Better understand what they have seen and what they know (or think they know).  You might say, “What have you already seen or heard about what happened?”
  • Validate their experiences and emotional responses. Remind them that it isn’t their fault if they have seen distressing videos. You might say, “It makes sense that this feels upsetting, scary, or confusing.” 
  • Offer signals of safety. Words of reassurance are helpful but also consider other non-verbal ways to manage distress. This could be extra snuggles, outside time, music, comforting smells, movement, family time, or play.
  • Help contextualize and make sense of what they have seen. You might say, “Videos online only show part of the story. Let’s talk more about what you saw/heard and what questions you have.”
  • Offer guidance on how to avoid ongoing exposure. You might say, “You don’t have to watch that video to stay informed. Let’s talk about ways to stay informed and connected without exposing yourself to violence.”
  • Remind them that they don’t need to handle this alone. You might say, “We will figure this out together. I am here when you need me.”

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. Explore our age-by-age guidance for talking about violence. 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. You might say, “Let’s look at your settings together,” or model with, “When I feel overwhelmed, I step away from my phone for a bit. Want to take a break together?” Other ideas include,

• • Using content filters on Apple or enabling SafeSearch on Google
  • Turning off autoplay
  • Taking social media breaks
  • Curating social media feeds

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. You might say, “Let’s turn off notifications for now so we can choose when we check.”

Talk about reassurance-seeking loops

It makes sense to look for reassurance after an act of violence. We want to know: “Will things be okay?” 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. You might say, “I notice I keep checking my phone even though it doesn’t make me feel better. Do you ever feel that way?”

Practice media literacy

In the wake of violence, the internet can become a chaotic and seething 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.”

Whether they witness violence in person or online, 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.