Media's Role in Terrorism

With the current coverage of the recent atrocity committed by a man enabled by racist and nationalistic redirect, a few things have begun to appear. The first is the way in which media platforms have enabled the spread of terrifying ideals and information. Media, more specifically social media, allows information and false information to bear the same weight. It allows for the empowerment of people with the same supremacist ideals as that of the New Zealand terrorist. Due to this unfiltered nature, an inherent part of social media platforms, certain ideas, misinformation, and content can be spread with little to no consequence at all. One expert believes that streaming acts like the one committed just days ago, can act as a way of actively recruiting more members to a said cause. This is incredibly scary in what it presents for the future. Something often seen as a tool can falsely glorify a very brutal and real thing. However beyond this shortcoming of media lies the way in which acts of violence, and the identities of people who commit them, are politicized. In other words, the way groups of people can be criminalized through the presentation of these stories. Whenever such an incident occurs and is committed by someone of brown skin, or select faiths media outlets, politicians, and people in general are quick to blame those traits as a root cause. Whether this is labeling Muslims as radical, Latinos as rapists, or Blacks as aggressive, many people are disproportionately affected when such incidents occur. Depending on these factors the perpetrator can be quickly labeled a terrorist, compared to that of a mass shooter. One phrase holding a much heavier tone than the other. Certain people are quickly blamed because of describing factors, while others are deemed mentally ill and just needed more guidance. Some terrorist's names are widespread and made infamous, while others as in this case are kept from being circulated. Now, none of these are the immediate problems at hand. Clearly, the focus should be on those affected and lending a helping hand to them in whatever ways necessary. Followed by working to create solutions which mitigate these acts of violence in the future. However, when moving forward its important to note the role in which media plays both in the enabling of these atrocities, as well as how it portrays those who perpetrate it.