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Could The ‘War Porn’ Videos Shared On Social Media Desensitize Viewers Or Be Used As Propaganda Tools? | International Association of Digital Marketing Professionals (IADMP)

Could The ‘War Porn’ Videos Shared On Social Media Desensitize Viewers Or Be Used As Propaganda Tools?

Aaron April 4, 2023

By Adam

Prior to social media, it was difficult to monitor a situation in real-time without actually going to the zone. The fighting in Ukraine can now be shared via social media thanks to every soldier having a smartphone.

There is no denying that some of the footage is raw and brutal, while some of the clips posted to social media are now so polished, curated, and edited – not to mention accompanied by upbeat music – that it increasingly resembles footage from a video game. These clips could be used to propagandize, which is why there is concern from both Kyiv as well as Moscow that they are using them for their war narratives.

There is a growing concern about this “war porn”, as it can depress some viewers and take away the human aspect. With every explosion that results in the destruction of a tank, or every rocket that is launched on an enemy position likely results in the loss of life – a tragedy regardless of who is dying. Wives will lose husbands and wives will lose children. Mothers will lose their sons.

These videos on social media are missing this part of the equation.

Jeffrey S. Debies–Carl, an associate professor of sociology at Yale University’s Department of Psychology and Sociology, warned that there is danger of people mistaking video footage for entertainment.

Debies-Carl suggested that this is likely to be exacerbated by the censoring of videos in order to remove most offensive parts. This sanitizes both the war and the videos. It is different from seeing the actual suffering of people. It is possible to mistake a cleaned-up version of what you see for the true thing, even if it does not contain any horrors.

Debies-Carl also noted that Emmett Till’s uncensored photo of his mutilated body on another continent was such an empowering, powerful force. This is especially because Emmett’s mother was included in the photograph.

Debies Carl said that “not only is it obvious, but so is her suffering.” Many people will sympathize and share her pain. Uncensored footage of war can show the human side of conflict. The horror and pain experienced by survivors of the war who have lost their loved ones is quite shocking and powerful.

It is clear that these videos are entertainment.

Use War Porn as a Propaganda Weapon

Another part of the equation is that these videos aren’t just meant to entertain – if they ever were – but they are actually being used as a propaganda tool. These videos are not intended to present an objective view of the conflict. They show a glimpse of what one side would like the rest of the world see.

Because it’s so simple to make videos editable, it makes sense that we have to ask …read more

Source:: Social Media Explorer

      

Aaron
Author: Aaron

Categories: International Association of Digital Marketing Professionals

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