01/30/2026
Gone are the days when social media was mainly about connecting with classmates or laughing over weekend memories with close friends.
Today, itโs important to protect ourselves from the psychological impact of content our brains were never meant to consume.
We know that soldiers can return from war with PTSD. There is also secondary (or vicarious) trauma, which occurs when people, such as therapists, first responders, or everyday viewers, are repeatedly exposed to traumatic material indirectly and begin to experience trauma symptoms themselves.
Our brains are not designed to repeatedly process graphic images or footage of violence without consequences. If youโve been feeling emotionally heavy or overwhelmed over the past few weeks, it may help to limit unwanted or repeated exposure to this kind of content. The article below offers practical suggestions for adjusting your social media feed so youโre not constantly bombarded with material that negatively affects your mental health.
And finally, if youโre struggling to cope during this time, please reach out for support. If you need immediate help, you can call or text 988 to connect with the Su***de & Crisis Lifeline.
The video of Charlie Kirkโs murder went far and wide, and many people ended up seeing it when they would rather have avoided it.