Is Social Media Making Us More Violent?

Violence permeates television shows and movies, and viewers are often able to “disconnect” themselves to some degree from the acts they see, knowing that the violence they watch is not real. However, with video captured easily on mobile devices, people can now watch actual violence, even as it is happening. Does this affect one’s mind differently than the simulated violence of cinema and television? New research suggests that it does.

According to a Youth Endowment Fund (YEF) survey of teens in England and Wales, “Most teenagers have seen real-world acts of violence on social media in the past year—70% of 13 to 17-year-olds reported seeing such content” (November 24, 2025). TikTok and X users reported the greatest viewing of actual violence, and Facebook, Snapchat, and Instagram “also have significant numbers of teenage users exposed to violent content” (November 25, 2024). While the average person does not witness violence in his or her day-to-day life, it is possible to be exposed to scenes of real violence every single day if one spends enough time on social media. Thanks to the way algorithms personalize media content, someone who has watched such violent footage can be lured into watching more—and for hours on end. According to the YEF, “16% of children aged between 13 and 17 years old reported perpetrating a violent incident in the past 12 months. Of these, nearly two-thirds (64%) said that social media played a role, including online arguments leading to in-person violence.”

God pays special attention to the person “who stops his ears from hearing of bloodshed, and shuts his eyes from seeing evil” (Isaiah 33:15). And when His Kingdom on Earth is established, “Violence shall no longer be heard in your land” (Isaiah 60:18). In a world where it is increasingly difficult to avoid scenes of violence and bloodshed, one must put forth effort to seek that which is good and right (Philippians 4:8). And when we do seek what is good and avoid exposure to evil and violent things, our minds and lives have much more peace. You can learn more by watching “Will War Ever End?”