The boy’s mother, who attended the court hearing, suggested in an interview afterward that the social media posts were an attempt to “be cool” among peers, KOMO-TV reported.
Obviously this is mom’s attempt to undersell her child’s plans, but I fully believe this has become a legit motive for young shooters. It’s hard to fully articulate my theory, but it’s something like: the more they rely on social media for self-esteem and validation, the less connected they feel to real-life people and events. They scroll through an endless stream of videos of humiliation, war crimes, pranks, and memes while having fewer of these experiences in real life. For some young people, their greatest achievement is to post a “deviant lick” that goes viral - a shocking inside joke that will label them a “fucking legend.” Add in a heavy dose of climate doom and cynical comments like, “Younger generations are totally fucked.” If someone feels like they have no future, at least they can grab a gun and blast their anger and despair at some NPCs while livestreaming for one last chance for some online attention.
Yes, it would help if guns are less accessible, but we NEED to be working on the epidemic of social isolation.
I highly recommend the short Netflix series, “Adolescence”. Not only is it highly topical and insightful into the areas you mentioned, but they’re 45 minute episodes done in one shot. The acting, directing and filmography is incredible.
Obviously this is mom’s attempt to undersell her child’s plans, but I fully believe this has become a legit motive for young shooters. It’s hard to fully articulate my theory, but it’s something like: the more they rely on social media for self-esteem and validation, the less connected they feel to real-life people and events. They scroll through an endless stream of videos of humiliation, war crimes, pranks, and memes while having fewer of these experiences in real life. For some young people, their greatest achievement is to post a “deviant lick” that goes viral - a shocking inside joke that will label them a “fucking legend.” Add in a heavy dose of climate doom and cynical comments like, “Younger generations are totally fucked.” If someone feels like they have no future, at least they can grab a gun and blast their anger and despair at some NPCs while livestreaming for one last chance for some online attention.
Yes, it would help if guns are less accessible, but we NEED to be working on the epidemic of social isolation.
I highly recommend the short Netflix series, “Adolescence”. Not only is it highly topical and insightful into the areas you mentioned, but they’re 45 minute episodes done in one shot. The acting, directing and filmography is incredible.