The afternoon that Charlie Kirk was killed, my 14-year-old son got off the school bus, and the first thing he said to me was, “Did you see the video of Charlie Kirk getting shot?” How do you respond to that? If I say yes, then I am admitting I viewed disturbing content and would be a hypocrite by telling him not to. If I say no, and you shouldn’t either, it could trigger their curiosity to watch it anyway.
Neither response mattered because he had already watched it. The minute he got on the school bus, all the kids were watching it on their phones. What about younger kids with phones? Were they watching it, too? I’ve had some friends tell me they can’t get that image out of their head. If that’s an adult’s reaction to seeing it, what do you think it’s doing to our kids?
Unfortunately, social media often serves up disturbing content and makes it nearly impossible not to see videos and news like this that go viral in seconds. Even more unfortunate, there is not a lot we can do to avoid seeing it (other than avoiding it altogether), which means the upsetting content can reach you even when you never chose to watch it.
READ: How to Break Free From the Social Media Trap
Research shows that repeated exposure to violent or disturbing content can increase stress, heighten anxiety, and lead to emotional health problems.
Here are 10 ways to proactively protect yourself and your family that I compiled from various sources, and I thought it was worth sharing.
1. Turn off autoplay. Settings can vary depending on the device, but this way, the video doesn’t automatically play itself without being prompted.
2. Unfollow certain accounts. Especially those that regularly share disturbing content. These could be news accounts, tabloids, influencers, etc.
3. Use keyword filters. These can mute or block specific words, phrases, or hashtags from slipping into your feed.
4. Block or mute certain accounts. Don’t hesitate to block or mute certain accounts if you see content that you don’t want to.
5. Adjust settings. Explore built-in controls on platforms like Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram to limit exposure to sensitive content.
6. Check age limits. Ensure your child’s social media accounts reflect their actual age to limit exposure to mature content.
7. Enable safe search on search engines. This includes Google SafeSearch, etc. On YouTube, use its Restricted Mode or SafeSearch to filter out mature content.
8. Utilize parental control software. Qustodio, Net Nanny, Bark, and Kaspersky Safe Kids are all good options.
9. Report disturbing content when you see it. Most platforms have reporting tools.
10. Talk to your children about online safety. This includes the impact of inappropriate content.
While we can’t control everything we see or don’t see on social media, we can take a few steps to help protect our families, so you’re only seeing what you choose to see.
