Don't Fool Around With ‘FAFO Parenting'
Didn't feed the dog? No food for you. Realize a particular after-school activity isn't for you? Tough luck—you'll do it until you pay for the gear we bought you. While these tactics may be deployed in a spirit of tough love or humor, they confuse humiliation for discipline. There's a difference between natural consequences and manufactured punishments designed for shock value. The former teaches responsibility; the latter erodes trust.
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Time Business News
21 hours ago
- Time Business News
Online Violence and Gen Z 2025 Update
Gen Z grew up connected, with smartphones and social media shaping daily life from an early age. This closeness to digital platforms brings real risks, especially as violent content and online harassment surface in every corner of the internet. Nearly 60% of Gen Z report encountering graphic or violent content online weekly. The constant drip of harmful posts, videos, and threats isn't rare anymore—it's become part of how many young people experience the world. Online violence has left deep marks, fueling anxiety, depression, and mistrust. Parents, teachers, and leaders face an urgent need to understand these new threats. Without action, this crisis will keep growing, making digital safety and mental health a top priority for everyone invested in Gen Z's future. With almost every moment connected, it's important to know what really counts as online violence. It's not just about shocking videos or disturbing images. Harmful actions can also be subtle, leaving deep emotional scars. Online violence isn't always physical, but its effects are real and lasting. Think of it as an invisible force that can change how young people see the world and themselves. Online violence can be grouped into several key types. Some mimic what happens in person, but technology adds new layers and risks. Here's a clear look at the most common forms: Online violence often starts with graphic content. Violent images and videos pop up in social feeds, group chats, or video platforms, sometimes without warning. Many are real recordings of assaults, abuse, or warfare, while others are simulations from games or movies. For Gen Z, repeated exposure to this kind of content can numb emotional response and harm mental health, even for those who scroll past quickly. Examples include: Cell phone videos of fights or assaults shared in group chats. Shocking photos linked to news coverage or viral challenges. Livestreams of crimes or traumatic events. Even without graphic media, interactions online can cross the line and become violent. Aggressive DMs, public threats, and organized pile-ons all chip away at confidence and personal safety. Unlike a playground argument, online aggression can follow victims 24/7 and often encourages others to join. Common forms: Coordinated harassment campaigns that target one person across multiple platforms. Repeated direct messages meant to intimidate, control, or shame. Public posts inciting followers to target or humiliate someone. For more information about how these behaviors cross into abuse, visit the NSPCC's guide to online abuse. Cyberbullying is one of the most visible kinds of online violence. It's when someone uses tech to threaten, insult, or exclude another person. The internet turns old-school bullying into a never-ending cycle, making the target feel trapped and alone. Real-life examples: Persistent rumors spread via group texts, DMs, or social stories. Humiliating photos posted without consent. Fake accounts set up to impersonate and embarrass someone. The reach and speed of these attacks make them harder to escape and easier for bystanders to ignore. Another serious part of online violence is hate speech and harassment. These attacks focus on identity, like race, gender, religion, or disability. Social platforms often become breeding grounds for hateful messages and organized abuse. Forms of online hate and harassment: Slurs and bigoted terms posted in comment sections or direct messages. Coordinated trolling, such as sending abusive content en masse to drown out someone's voice. Doxxing (posting private details) to intimidate or silence. Harassment can build up fast, harming not just individuals but whole communities. A deep dive into these forms can be found in Amnesty's online violence resource. Online violence is harder to escape. Unlike a physical space, the digital world never closes. Hateful messages or violent images can follow young people home, into their pockets, or even while they're out with friends. The psychological toll often feels heavier, since the attacks can be constant, global, and sometimes anonymous. Here's a quick comparison table for clarity: Feature In-Person Violence Online Violence Location Limits Physical places (schools, parks) Anywhere with an internet connection Bystander Reach Dozens, maybe hundreds Thousands or millions instantly Escape Options Can leave the location Hard to avoid (phones, computers, etc.) Anonymity Rare Common, attackers often hide behind screens Lasting Footprint Fades with time Posts, images, and videos can last years The reality is that online violence infects every corner of digital life. It grows quietly and can change hearts and minds before anyone realizes. For Gen Z, understanding what counts as online violence is the first step toward real protection. The nonstop stream of violent media, cyberbullying, and disturbing interactions isn't just noise—it works its way into the minds and habits of Gen Z. Exposure to online aggression doesn't end with a scroll or a closed app. Over time, it can shift how young people react, see themselves, and treat others. Patterns emerge, revealing higher aggression, a dulling sense of empathy, and new anxieties about the world and its dangers. The impacts are real and deep, changing what Gen Z believes about safety, community, and personal responsibility. Violent images and hostile online interactions seep in over time. Research shows that kids and teens who see repeated violence on their screens become more likely to: Act more aggressively , both online and offline , both online and offline See violence as a normal way to resolve conflict Lose emotional sensitivity to suffering 'But not everyone reacts the same way. While some become numb, others develop intense fear…' Repeated exposure reduces the shock that violence once caused. What was once appalling can become routine. This effect, called desensitization , makes aggressive comments or memes seem harmless even when they're not. Studies highlight that youth often become numb to violence, leading to higher risks for real-life aggression and mistreatment of others. The American Psychological Association describes this clear link between media violence, growing aggression, and reduced empathy in young viewers (Violence in the media: Psychologists study potential harmful effects). While some get used to the violence, others develop rising fear and constant anxiety. Gen Z sees the world through a digital window, and frequent exposure to threats or attacks can shift what they believe about safety and trust. When feeds fill with bullying, hate, or violent videos, the 'mean world syndrome' sets in. This is the belief that the world is far more dangerous than it really is. Common effects include: Growing mistrust of peers, authority, and even strangers Trouble feeling safe at school, home, or online at school, home, or online Chronic anxiety or hyper-alertness about possible threats Surveys show that spending hours glued to social platforms worsens these struggles, doubling the risk for mental health issues like depression and persistent fear (Social Media and Youth Mental Health). Gen Z, more than any other group, is learning to see danger everywhere—sometimes leading to withdrawal, loneliness, or a sense of powerlessness. As violent content becomes common, another problem grows—a weakening urge to step in when others suffer. This is called the bystander effect. Gen Z might see someone getting bullied in a group chat or a violent video shared repeatedly, but exposure over time makes these acts seem less urgent or shocking. Some key signs of online bystander apathy: Scrolling past violence without commenting or reporting Normalizing abuse or harsh comments as 'just jokes' Assuming someone else will help, or thinking there's nothing that can be done Over time, repeated encounters with online violence can rob youth of empathy, making it harder for them to stand up for victims or even recognize real harm. A growing body of research says that as teens get used to these images and stories, it stifles caring and encourages a hands-off approach (Desensitization to Media Violence: Links With Habitual Exposure). This effect doesn't just shape how they act online—it follows them into real life, rewriting the rules about when and why to help. The lines blur between concern and indifference, and the constant hum of online violence threatens to numb Gen Z's instincts to speak up, connect, and care. Online violence isn't an equal threat—some within Gen Z feel it more. While anyone can become a target, certain groups face a stronger, more painful impact. Factors like race, mental health, and social standing can make online spaces feel more hostile. Let's break down why some in Gen Z are hit harder than others, and which groups are most exposed. LGBTQ+ youth often walk into online communities looking for acceptance, only to face targeted abuse. Hate speech, harassment, and exclusion plague them more than their peers. Simple posts about identity can attract a flood of hateful comments, while group chats and forums sometimes devolve into places where queer youth are outed, mocked, or threatened. What makes this worse: Many don't have support at home, so the attacks feel total. Having to hide online to avoid abuse can shut down social connections. Constant attacks can reinforce feelings of isolation. Studies show that online harassment can double the risk for depression or even lead to self-harm in LGBTQ+ youth. For more in-depth facts on child and youth safety online, see the UN's child and youth safety resource. Youth of color face a heightened risk of racial slurs, racism, and hate group attacks. Social media platforms often allow bigoted content to spread, and algorithms can worsen the problem by surfacing viral hate speech. Why racial stress online stings: Attacks are often public, increasing humiliation. Repeated encounters with racist content or comments pile up over time. Some messages target whole communities, causing second-hand trauma. Too often, race-based bullying spreads quickly and widely, making escapes feel impossible. Teens and young adults already struggling with anxiety, depression, or low self-esteem can be especially vulnerable to online violence. Aggressive messages or exclusion from group chats can push them deeper into negative thinking, sometimes triggering crises. Key reasons for increased risk: They may internalize attacks, believing the cruel words. Cyberbullying can worsen existing anxiety or sadness. It becomes easier to avoid both online and offline social life, leading to more isolation. The Surgeon General's report on youth mental health and social media also shows that the more time spent online, the more likely these risks double for youth already hurting. While LGBTQ+ youth, racial minorities, and those with mental health challenges face the highest risks, others fall into the danger zone too: Youth with disabilities, who are often targeted for being 'different' Those in foster care or living without stable family support Kids and teens who don't fit into social norms at school or in their community It's not just identity that raises the risk—access to support, past trauma, and how much time is spent online all play a part. Many young people don't know where to turn for help, and that isolation magnifies the pain. Key factors that tip the scale toward greater risk: Frequent social media use – The more time spent, the greater the risk of encountering bullies, hate, and violent content (CDC study on bullying and social media). Lack of offline support – Without caring adults or positive friends, online pain cuts deeper. Previous victimization – Those who've been bullied before are more likely to be targeted again. Risk isn't just about who you are; it's about who stands next to you—online and offline—when things turn ugly. The groups above show just how uneven the impact of online violence can be. The more we understand, the better we can protect those who need it most. Protecting Gen Z from online violence isn't just about filtering content—it's about building safer platforms, stronger communities, and resilient young people who know how to navigate the digital world. TIME BUSINESS NEWS
Washington Post
2 days ago
- Washington Post
‘Sex Beyond Yes' asks us to think about more than consent
The risks are often recited, the dangers enumerated. The warnings proliferate; the threats abound. One could be forgiven for regarding it as a trial or even a punishment; at best a mild embarrassment, at worst a scarring disaster. I refer, of course, to sex in the 21st century, an ordeal so perilous and disagreeable that record numbers of young people are choosing to forgo it altogether.
Fox News
3 days ago
- Fox News
Trump to hold historic summit with Putin in Alaska and more top headlines
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