Researchers roar against the fact that children can watch violence and crime on their mobile phones without protection. Social media companies are a strong contributor to children becoming numb and involved in crime, says Emma Claesdotter-Knutsson who is associate professor in child and youth psychiatry.
– The more you watch, the more similar clips you see. It is very worrying, she says.
The situation with criminal children in Sweden is exceptional. On Monday, new figures from the Public Prosecutor’s Office showed that the number of children under the age of 15 who are suspected of involvement in murder plans has tripled compared to last year. In addition, Bris warns that almost twice as many children call in about crime.
Now voices are being raised from child and youth psychiatry.
– It is known that there is a dulling of the children. The exposure to violence in the media is a huge factor in this. I think it’s very worrying, says Emma Claesdotter-Knutsson, who is a senior physician and associate professor in child and adolescent psychiatry at Lund University.
Emma Claesdotter-Knutsson conducts research on how social media affects the mental health of children and young people.
More and more violence in social media
The BUP researcher is critical that the algorithms of social media companies work the way they do.
– The algorithms in the media are a problem because they increase the continuity of exposure of violence. The more you watch, the longer you scroll, the longer you linger on a clip – the more similar clips you see. It brings a normalization and in the end you become numb, says Emma Claesdotter-Knutsson.
At the same time, video violence is not the only reason why children become numb and more easily drawn into crime, according to Claesdotter-Knutsson.
– Not all children who see these clips become numb, but there are other factors for that as well. Empathy development, social norms and group belonging are some examples.
“Question about this”
Research shows that children want more parental presence on social media, according to Claesdotter-Knutsson.
– Children want their parents to ask how much they watch, and what they watch. They also want the parents to ask how they are doing.
– I also hope that healthcare staff, school staff and leisure staff will ask about this. That young people’s exposure to violence on social media should be discussed in society.