Social media users need to be more vigilant in reporting harmful content

*This piece discusses topics unsuitable for some audiences and possibly triggering. Read ahead with caution and at your own risk.

Social media has given its users advantages our world has never known. With a few clicks and swipes, we can access more information than what was ever known in the Library of Alexandria; we can connect with friends and strangers within seconds; protests can be organized without ever meeting face-to-face until the day of the event. However, while technology can be used for the greater good, it also has a dark side. 

In the wrong hands, technology can be a tool of violence, whether that’s through cyber bullying or stalking. Among the most pressing issues over the last few years is the problem of live streaming and the gore that it sometimes depicts. 

On Oct. 9, a man live streamed an attempted mass shooting in Halle, Germany. The video garnered about 2,200 views, and was only reported after 30 minutes, according to The New York Times. Similar crimes were broadcast live in Jackson, Fla. and in New Zealand.

In 2018, a woman was convicted of shooting a man in his car as they played with a gun carelessly. Although she had tried to hide the evidence, the live stream was publicly available. On other occasions, people have been known to live stream car chases, such as a Minnesota man in September.

Among one of the most notable crimes in the past few years was the live-streamed shooting of a 74-year-old grandfather in his own car. The man who shot him claimed he had “just snapped” after a breakup with his girlfriend, according to the BBC.

All of these crimes, and more, have been live streamed on platforms such as Facebook Live and Twitch, but have also made their way to video platforms like YouTube, before being removed by the companies. Each of these companies make it clear in their terms and conditions that gore is not permitted on their sites, and such videos will be removed. However, violent content still appears on these sites regularly.

With so much content available, people across the world have begun to question who is responsible for the live streams, who should take blame for the harm the videos create and what the governments’ role in these cases should be.

Since the attack on two mosques, the New Zealand government has implemented an investigation team to look out for extremist content, spending millions to hire enough people to sift through the load. While this is undeniably a good practice, some say it won’t work — at least not as efficiently as the government would like. 

After all, there is a reason why most social media platforms nowadays are based on algorithms and computers: there is simply too much content for any single person to sift through.

So who is to blame: The assailants, the governments or the platforms? 

The problem with live streaming content is multilayered. It doesn’t just come down to one person or group, but several of them. Governments need to be able to connect with citizens through social media and other platforms more regularly to spot crimes as they happen; but they can’t do it alone. Platforms also need users to report a video to take it down, police and other agencies need to be made aware that harmful content is being published online in order to do anything about it. No life has ever been saved through silence.

In 2017, a group of men raped a 15-year-old girl on Facebook Live. Although 40 people watched the live stream, no one reported the video, nor called the police. It was only after the assault, when the girl’s mother contacted the police with screenshots of the video, that any action was taken to help the girl. 

Perhaps it is the fact that we are watching through a screen and not in person that makes these crimes feel less real somehow. Maybe it is because we do not know the victims personally, or maybe we’re just so used to violence in our current age that it no longer affects us the same way — but to remain silent is not only a mistake, but a crime in itself. 

Social media users must be as vigilant in their online communities as they are expected to be in person. To remain silent when a crime is being committed is on par with allowing that crime to take place; just because a person is not committing the crime themselves does not mean they are innocent. To claim otherwise is simply shifting the responsibility. 

The fact is, social media is a neutral territory. It can be used for good by those who hope to congregate peaceful protests, raise money for a good cause or simply connect with loved ones. But in the wrong hands, it can be used terribly to harm others and oneself. It is likely that no online platform will ever be free from dangers, since there will always be villainous people. This is why it is essential for users to take responsibility and make their communities, online or in person, a better place for all, even if that’s just by reporting an issue.