The Internet & Traumaporn: The "Ethical" Consumption of Tragedy in The Digital Age
Aug 15, 2024
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In this discussion, MrBeast, a leading YouTube content creator known for his philanthropic videos, dives into the phenomenon of 'traumaporn' on social media. He explores what defines this controversial content and why it captivates audiences. The conversation also critiques the ethics behind creating and sharing traumatic narratives, highlighting the responsibilities of creators and consumers alike. MrBeast raises questions about the commodification of tragedy and the delicate balance between impactful storytelling and exploitation.
The podcast critiques how social media perpetuates a commodification of trauma, promoting desensitization and a lack of responsibility in content consumption.
It questions the ethical implications of creators capitalizing on traumatic narratives, highlighting the need for critical evaluation of storytelling motivations.
Deep dives
The Rise of Trauma Porn in Digital Culture
The release of Netflix's 'Monster' highlighted the concerning trend of trauma porn in modern media. This trend has gained traction particularly on social media, where audiences exhibit a morbid fascination with true crime narratives, often romanticizing figures like Jeffrey Dahmer. The reception of the series led to users sharing content that expresses empathy for the serial killer while disregarding the trauma experienced by the victims' families. This phenomenon raises critical questions about the impact of social media on how audiences engage with and consume traumatic content, suggesting a shift toward desensitization and commodification of real suffering.
Understanding Trauma Porn and Its Implications
Trauma porn is defined in various ways, but generally refers to the media's tendency to exploit trauma for entertainment without providing constructive dialogue or insights. It manifests in different forms, including true crime podcasts that sensationalize horrific events, often focusing on narratives that evoke strong emotional reactions rather than genuine understanding. This type of content is detrimental as it commodifies suffering, allowing audiences to consume tragedy without taking responsibility for its implications. The distinction between informative content and trauma porn lies in the intent and the impact on marginalized communities, which often bear the brunt of this exploitative storytelling.
Social Media's Role in Sharing Trauma
Social media platforms have fundamentally changed how traumatic events are shared, reflecting a mix of performative allyship and exploitative voyeurism. The exploitation of traumatic narratives can be seen in the reactions to incidents like the George Floyd killing, where many individuals shared graphic content to raise awareness while unintentionally further subjecting marginalized communities to additional trauma. This cycle fosters a sense of desensitization, as audiences may become numb to violence against specific demographics. The ethics surrounding the sharing of such content necessitate reflection on the responsibility of social media users in consuming and disseminating trauma-based narratives.
The Economics of Attention and Trauma-Based Content
In today's attention-driven economy, creators often capitalize on trauma to capture audience interest and grow their social media presence. This phenomenon leads to the rise of content that exploits vulnerable individuals for profit and clout, blurring ethical lines in storytelling. For instance, channels like Soft White Underbelly and creators like MrBeast have faced scrutiny for their approaches to philanthropy and representation, raising questions about consent and the commodification of suffering. Balancing genuine storytelling with respect for those affected by trauma poses an ongoing challenge, urging audiences to critically evaluate the motivations behind consuming trauma-based content.
In this week's episode, I explore the internet's love of "traumaporn" content and how this is changing the ways in which we engage with tragedy in the modern day, aiming to answer the question: Is there any ethical way to create and consume traumatic content online?
Timestamps:
4:09 Defining “traumaporn”
9:27 Online discourse around traumatic content
14:06 Why do we like traumaporn?
19:58 Commodification of traumaporn
21:50 Soft White Underbelly
26:03 MrBeast
28:50 Is there an ethical way to create and consume traumatic content online?