Guarding the Mind: The Dangers of Scrolling After Horrific Events
It's a natural desire to want to show up online, to stay informed, to care about what others are going through, and to join the conversation.
That desire to connect comes from a really good place, afterall, we are all designed to be social beings and we have an intrinsic desire to care for one another.
But lately, the endless stream of violent videos, traumatic news, heated opinions, and explicit content has left many people feeling overwhelmed, exhausted, and even unsafe.
If that’s you, you’re not alone.
Sociologists call this moral panic: This is a phenomenon in which repeated exposure to shocking events makes us believe danger is everywhere, even when the actual risk hasn’t changed.
Algorithms feed this anxious cycle, often without us realizing it, amplifying fear and outrage until it becomes the very air we breathe.
“The human mind was never designed to see it all, hear it all, and experience it all through a screen while sitting alone in a room.”
I’m a brain science nerd. And did you know that simple brain science can show why constant online exposure can feel so heavy physically as well?
When a person sees or even just hears about traumatic events, there is a part in their bodies that activates our friend Amy (the amygdala; aka our safety regulator) and “she” releases what's called the stress hormones, also known as cortisol and adrenaline.
When these hormones are released our bodies feel as if the threat and danger is personal. Over time, this can lead to chronic anxiety, irritability, and burnout.
Even worse, (I actually see this happening a lot in young people right now) this constant exposure can numb our brains to violence, making people less sensitive to suffering and more detached from compassion.
I wish I could stop there, but the sad reality is that this impact doesn’t end with the individual; it ripples outward, affecting those around us as well.
- Kids mirror the stress and panic they see in adults. (If we want to protect young minds we need to begin by protecting our own).
- Relationships (with our spouses, family and friends) suffer when we show up tense, distracted, or irritable.
- Our spiritual lives can become overloaded with noise. And when that noise takes center stage, it crowds our minds, interrupts stillness, and weakens our intimacy with God
That’s why I believe it is a wise call for many of us to consider to pause, reflect, and set boundaries on what our online consumption looks like lately, and make necessary adjustments.
Turning off the feed, taking pauses, and being extra selective to what voices we allow are not signs of weakness or a “living in the clouds” mentality.
You can still be informed and take action but with self-control, a discipline and a fruit that develops strength, focus, and peace.
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Romans 12:2, NIV).
“More than anything you guard, protect your mind, for life flows from it.” (Proverbs 4:23, CEB)
“And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:7, NIV)
Share your thoughts!
What’s one word you’d use to describe today’s online culture—and why?
|
|
|
Daniela Mejia, MA
Family and Child Mental Health Educator
|
