Overview

• The graphic video circulated instantly across X, TikTok and other platforms, which do not apply the editorial limits used by news outlets.
• Clinicians report that sudden exposure to violent imagery can trigger acute stress reactions even in trained professionals, and research after the Boston Marathon bombings linked greater media exposure to higher stress.
• Therapists warn that repeated viewing can desensitize people to violence, with particular concern for children who show flat reactions when discussing what they saw.
• A criminologist cautions that raw footage of real crimes can reinforce techniques and inspire copycat attacks among susceptible individuals.
• Experts advise limiting social feeds, avoiding rewatching clips, using parental controls and grounding techniques, and seeking help if needed, with resources available from SAMHSA and the Red Cross.