New websites or social media accounts, broadcasting videos of individuals in their final moments of life (murders, suicides, road accidents and other tragic events) are attracting more and more young people. These images are not scenes from films or video games, but are well actual.
Young people are exposed to violent content online
According to a study by IFOP*, 61 % children have already been exposed to violent content online, compared to 39% a few years ago.. Faced with this worrying phenomenon, which poses a major psychological danger to children and adolescents, it is essential to’open dialogue, supervise their digital usage, and provide them with guidance suitable to protect them.
Why do these sites attract young people?
Teenagers are particularly vulnerable to this type of content for several reasons:
- Morbid curiosity During adolescence, identity formation involves exploring boundaries and confronting taboos. Death and extreme violence, as taboo subjects, are all the more fascinating because young people often lack the words to ask questions and do not have access to the right people to talk to. Faced with this lack of understanding, they seek answers themselves. ;
- The need to test their limits Adolescence is a period when young people seek to prove to themselves and others that they are capable of facing their fears. Watching the forbidden becomes a form of testing that can be experienced as a rite of passage. Young viewers imagine that they are strengthening their maturity and resilience by confronting unbearable images. However, far from toughening them up, this content can weaken them and leave a lasting mark. ;
- The group effect and social networks : Teenagers live in an environment where belonging to a group is paramount. Watching shocking videos can become a collective challenge where everyone pushes each other to go further. ;
- The search for adrenaline Adolescence is marked by a quest for thrills, linked to neurobiological changes in the brain. Exposure to shocking videos causes intense activation of the nervous system, similar to that experienced when watching a horror film, with the difference that these images are not fictional. This confusion between reality and virtual reality can accentuate the emotional impact and cause trauma.
What are the risks for young people?
Repeated exposure to these videos has very real consequences:
- Psychological trauma : Adolescents, who are in the process of developing their identity and emotional maturity, may underestimate the impact of the images they view. Unlike films or video games, these violent scenes are not filtered as fiction: they impose themselves on the brain in a raw manner, activating the same mechanisms as during a real traumatic event. ;
- The trivialisation of violence : The adolescent brain is still developing, particularly in terms of its ability to regulate emotions and develop empathy. When young people are repeatedly exposed to images in which suffering and death are sensationalised, they can become desensitised. Extreme violence gradually becomes trivialised, even a source of excitement or curiosity. This process alters the perception of suffering and can impact the development of moral values, making the individual more tolerant of brutality. ;
- An impact on mental health Numerous studies in neuroscience and clinical psychology show that repeated exposure to violent content can exacerbate underlying mental health issues or contribute to their emergence. This content overstimulates the limbic system, the area of the brain involved in managing emotions, which can maintain a state of chronic stress, disrupt sleep and cause lasting psychological distress (depression, anxiety, etc.). ;
- A possible fascination with death For some adolescents who are already vulnerable due to personal difficulties (depression, social isolation, profound unhappiness, etc.), these videos can act as a trigger, reinforcing dark thoughts and risky behaviour.
How can you protect your children from this offensive content?
- Open the dialogue without judgement: Encourage discussion with open-ended questions: «Have you heard of these websites?», «Why do you think these videos attract so many people?». Let them express themselves without dramatising or minimising their feelings.
- Explain the reality of these videos: Remind them that these images are not fiction but human tragedies. Behind every video, there are real people and real suffering.
- Raise awareness of psychological effects: Even if they feel «strong», their brains process these images as a real experience. This can cause anxiety, nightmares and desensitisation to violence.
- Propose suitable alternatives: If a teenager is seeking to understand violence and death, direct them towards documentaries, podcasts, professional testimonials or works that address these themes with perspective and analysis.
- Regulating digital usage: Activate filters if necessary, such as parental control software on digital devices, but above all, prioritise discussion. Help them to be aware of the dangers without depriving them of their digital autonomy.
- Need help? Call 3018: If you are a parent, professional or young person concerned, the 3018 is a free and confidential service that provides support, advice and protection against exposure to offensive content.
📞 Call or contact us via chat at 3018.co.uk
* IFOP (French Institute of Public Opinion). Parents facing the dangers of the Internet. Study conducted on children's exposure to violent and inappropriate content online. Study conducted in September 2022.
