Shared voices: Impact of social media on conflict by FODIP
“In glowing screens, young minds find strife, A digital storm that stirs their life, Conflict's echo, a ceaseless tide, imprints on hearts where shadows reside.”
Have humans ever witnessed conflict, in such detail, live on our mobile phones?
Social media, whether we like it or not, has become a medium to which violence can transfer to other countries, transgressing borders and national identities.
Why do young people in the UK care so much about what is happening in the Middle East? This common question poses a challenge to our emotional responses to the horrific violence we witness. It challenges our determination and commitment to continuing discussions about Palestine and Israel.
It is a particularly striking contestation to young people of faith backgrounds in the UK, particularly Jews, Christians and Muslims. Despite ethnic and religious Jews consisting of only 0.5% of the England and Wales population, with Muslims approximately 6.5% (2021 Census), many young people in the UK have cultural, religious and familial connections to the region. So, unsurprisingly, they really care about what happens to the people who live there.
Social media has been a significant source of communication with those who live in the region; Instagram and Facebook allow young people to check-in with friends and family. In the extreme circumstances many face in the region, this has meant checking for the safety, or even survival of loved ones in recent months.
It is therefore, unhelpful to dismiss social media as a hindrance for the younger generation. Baby boomers have expressed disapproval of their children’s indifference to the filtered lenses of mainstream news. Young adults in the past 8-9 months have been watching the violence in Gaza, Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories directly from journalists on the ground.
Concerningly, studies suggest a link between repeated exposure to graphic content and increased anxiety, depression, and even symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). This ‘vicarious trauma’ can occur even for those not directly involved in the events depicted. Repeated exposure also runs the risk of desensitisation for some users, regardless of religion. Violence becomes the new normal, almost numbing any emotional response. While religious teachings emphasise compassion or non-violence, the consumption of contrary content makes it a frustrating experience, creating further detachment and dissociation. This can be especially troubling for young people in the UK who follow stricter interpretations of their faith.
However, conversely, witnessing atrocities can strengthen the resolve of some religious people. They might feel called to action, like providing aid or promoting peace based on their religious teachings. Religion also provides a safety-net and hope to cope with the trauma being experienced second-handedly.
We heard one of our Muslim young participant say that she tries to only use social media on weekends, which is due to the discipline encouraged by her Muslim parents. However, since the events in the region, she expressed she is obsessed with watching the news on social media, and feels addicted. Resolve in social media has become the new normal trauma response. They watch the news before going to bed and begin their day with scrolling on social media. It becomes an endless loop and always occupies their mind, maintaining high stress and anxiety levels.
Many people feel that taking adequate breaks from social media helps them to decompress from emotionally-charged content. Breaking the trigger-cycle of violence in the brain promotes focus on positive aspects of life. However, this is very subjective and also privileged. Not everyone has the luxury to switch off and continue with their lives, as expressed by many young adults. The guilt and shame, too, impacts their mental health, given that their loved ones and fellow believers are suffering on the other end.
Considering how media is a fourth pillar of democracy, modern age social media is the main source of information that creates opinions and beliefs, often through the lens of influencers, celebrities, and peer groups for the youth. These further amplify polarised views, leading to stress and confusion among young people as they navigate conflicting narratives and propaganda. Small echo chambers form around these groups due to the algorithms depicting only one-sided content. This gravely impacts their ability to rationalise or hold space for other perspectives. Amplification of one perspective, negates the possibility of another, therefore forming stronger beliefs that are further difficult to change.
At FODIP, we learn from young people that social media greatly influences their sense of identity. For some, exposure to the conflict on social media can strengthen cultural or religious identity and solidarity with their respective communities. Others might experience internal conflicts regarding their cultural or religious identity, especially if they are exposed to diverse viewpoints that challenge their pre-existing beliefs. At FODIP we encourage participants to diversify their information sources, to avoid being entrapped in echo chambers, and to hear from other perspectives.
Some young people become more politically active, participating in online campaigns, protests, and advocacy efforts related to the conflict. However, at FODIP we have found that they also experience a lot of fear about expressing their opinions that might not be accepted by others. They struggle with lack of knowledge or sometimes even feel pressured to post, simply to align with their peer groups. There have been many instances reported to us where young adults have lost their jobs for expressing a particular opinion siding with one party.
Further, young people may face online harassment or bullying due to their expressed views on the conflict, leading to social isolation or strained peer relationships. Verbal fights erupt in comment sections and often escalate to hate speech depicting racism. People become ‘keyboard warriors’ who hide behind the keyboard, deceive their identities and propagate islamophobia and antisemitism. Instances of cyber bullying and harassment have significantly increased, impacting young adults who are still struggling to cope with the trauma of the conflict.
One would hope for social support in such instances, however, we have found that existing relationships have also suffered due to opposing views. Especially in countries like the UK, where people from different communities reside together, isolation and polarisation have exacerbated tensions within communities, particularly in areas with significant Jewish and Muslim populations, leading to real-world conflicts and divisions.
One of the most significant challenges social media poses to its users is the spread of misinformation. With the fast-paced dynamics of these platforms, individuals are less-likely to check the reliability of their sources. We have witnessed emotionally provocative images and videos, which tend to insight impulsive sharing of information, with disregard to the consequences of such actions.
Young people often feel the pressure to post on social media, but not all feel empowered with the background education to support their reposted comments. But should a lack of historical and political knowledge urge us to disregard curiosity and concern towards what other humans are experiencing in the Middle East?
Educators can feel disempowered amongst the vastness of information that young people are bringing into classrooms. ‘Miss, am I antisemitic if I say, “From the River to the Sea”’. Fearful of saying the ‘wrong thing’, teachers can easily fall into the trap of not saying anything at all. FODIP have always supported educational institutions, and has increased school, college and university workshops due to the high demand in recent months. We recognise the issue is the silence we reinforce around children and young adults’ curiosity, which is dangerous to their own exploration of significant issues which ultimately, have a huge impact and polarise UK communities.
Gone are the days when we could monitor and fact-check every piece of information young people are exposed to. Instead, FODIP equips young people with the tools to approach information on social media with a critical eye. This means upskilling young people, not to side with the most preferable Instagram Influencer or celebrity, but to adopt a set of skills necessary for achieving moral agency. Part of our mission is to encourage individuals to step out of their ‘echo chambers’ and expose themselves to a range of perspectives, reaching different news platforms. In doing so, young people are empowered to adopt informed beliefs, rather than being tethered to the beliefs of celebrity idols. Producing awareness of what political spectrum their news is formulated by is a key start; developing the ability to identify what institutions and individuals could be influencing the messages of information outputs. Interrogating the sources of information means questioning, is it ‘reliable’? Engage in a conversation about what ‘reliability’ and ‘trustworthiness’ means. Encourage self-reflection- what impact does my reposting have?
An unhelpful approach to social media is to demonise it. Another unhelpful approach to the information regurgitated from these platforms is to dismiss or silence it. Social media and technology can be empowering tools when used correctly. Learning ways in which we can all use it safely, healthily and responsibly is key.
By Mansi C. (Monitoring and Evaluation Officer) and Lucy D. (Project Manager) at FODIP.
