Chapter 5 - The Impact of Terrorism on Children and Adolescents: Terror in Their Eyes, Terror on Their Screens

Abstract

Terror events have a strong impact on children and adults alike, whether they experience the event directly or indirectly. Media, social media, and television news relay information to the public and cover traumatic events, such as the Boston Marathon Bombing, the World Trade Center attacks, and other attacks in the United States and abroad. In this chapter, we review the growing body of research covering the mental health implications for youth resulting from the immediate, intense coverage of these events on television and social media. Repeated exposure to violent and scary images and video can have a negative impact on mental health outcomes for youth of all ages and should be noted by the adults who care for them. The rise of social media as a news source, along with the immense popularity of social media among youth, requires updated provisions to best protect these children in times of crisis. Adults must have a good understanding of the mental health impacts of this coverage to develop protective strategies to be used when these events occur. Studies continue to show the mental health impact of direct and indirect exposure to terrorist attacks and crisis situations for children, and the need for comprehensive, protective strategies continues to be necessary.