What if….. social media existed in the Revolution like it does in your generation? Would violence be more common and intense or less?

I think that social media would definitely have inflamed the anger that was raging during the Revolution. Propaganda would spread like wildfire, just like it is happening now with your current politics; however, I still believe that it is highly possible for the physical violence to actually go down.

Many people need a moment to think before they speak which can be attained by typing a social media post, but not by meeting people in person. Many people who are prone to violence and realize this will likely resort to staying behind a screen. It is also possible that since social media often gives an immediate “therapeutic” response from writing or typing something out, that many of those prone to violence would not feel the need to be violent anymore, or at least feel less of a need if nothing else.

Many people also aren’t outgoing or confrontational enough to speak their voice. I think social media is a good way to spread education and opinions to a higher number of people with the opportunity to avoid or at least do something about the trolling and arguments that will inevitably come and does not require a person to be very educated, wealthy, male, connected, religious, etc.

The increased number of people getting the opportunity to have a voice could easily lead to increased emotional and social violence, but physical should go down. Imagine this situation if the other situations do not apply.

A person is prone to violence. They go out and riot, destroying property and potentially other peoples’ lives. They get a video, a picture, or some other sort of evidence of the altercation and post it. The person will be so obsessed with the likes and comments flooding in, defending their position and encouraging others to do the same, that they will not have time or likely the desire to do it again. They will relive the same moment and argue with those in the comments that disagree with them, giving them a high very similar, if not the same as the one achieved from being physically violent.

The point is, even if social media does not decrease the initial physical violence stage, for many people, it would decrease the recurring stages, ultimately decreasing physical violence. It definitely wouldn’t even come close to abolishing it, but it gives another outlet that allows someone to punch a wall or a pillow after a disagreement through a screen, instead of assaulting another person, resulting in fewer and less critical injuries and decreased property destruction.