Impact of Visual Images on the Psychological State of Media Students (Gaza War as a Case Study) ()
1. Introduction
Visual images play a crucial role in shaping individuals’ awareness and psychological attitudes, with their importance magnified in the fields of media and journalism, where images serve as powerful tools for conveying information and influencing the audience (Aleman et al., 2002). With the advancement of technology and the proliferation of media channels (Baddeley, 2007), images have become more prevalent and influential, emphasizing their necessity in conveying live events and facts. In this context, studying the impact of visual images on the psychological state of media students becomes essential, as they constitute the target audience for such images and are more interactive with them due to their specialization and future academic and professional tasks (Borst & Kosslyn, 2008).
Visual images constitute an essential part of covering major events and conflicts, with the Gaza War being one of the prominent examples reflecting how images are used to convey civilian suffering and the effects of conflict (Kosslyn & Thompson, 2003). Gaza War is considered a rich case study for analyzing the impact of visual images on viewers (Ganis, Thompson, & Kosslyn, 2009), especially media students who are expected to handle such material professionally and critically (Andrade et al., 2002). Images from conflict zones are characterized by violence and intensity, raising questions about their psychological impact on continuous viewers (Logie, 2011a).
Media students face significant challenges when dealing with shocking images conveyed by the media (Baddeley & Andrade, 2000). They are not only recipients of information but also trained to produce and convey it to the audience (Dean et al., 2005). Consequently, their continuous exposure to violent and shocking images may affect their mental health (Dean et al., 2008), leading to stress, anxiety, depression, and even post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). These conditions require special attention from educational institutions to ensure the provision of necessary psychological support for students (Engelkamp, Mohr, & Logie, 1995).
Visual images are distinguished by their profound ability to evoke emotions and empathy, making them an effective tool for conveying human and social messages (Kosslyn, Thompson, & Ganis, 2006). However, this emotional impact may have a negative effect on viewers, potentially leading to a state of continuous psychological distress (Dent, 2010).
It is also essential to enhance awareness among media students on how to professionally handle violent images (Michael, 2023). This can be achieved by integrating topics of mental health and stress management into the curriculum and providing training courses aimed at building psychological coping skills with shocking images (Logie, 2011b). Additionally, universities can provide counseling and psychological services for students to help them cope with the psychological effects that may result from their studies (Logie & van der Meulen, 2009).
Therefore, studying the impact of visual images on the psychological state of media students, with a focus on the Gaza War as a case study, is of paramount importance in the fields of media and psychological research (Darling, Della Sala, & Logie, 2009). This type of study contributes to a deeper understanding of the psychological challenges faced by media students and emphasizes the importance of providing psychological support and awareness for them (Logie, Brockmole, & Jaswal, 2011). It also helps in developing better academic policies and practices that support students and equip them to deal with the requirements of the media profession in a safe and healthy manner (Darling, Della Sala, & Logie, 2007).
2. Problem Statement:
Society is characterized by rapid changes and significant social and geopolitical transformations, with the world witnessing ongoing wars and conflicts accompanied by the evolution of media and technology, shifting us from the age of speed to the age of imagery. In this context, images depicting scenes of victims and casualties during these conflicts have become an integral part of shaping the conscience of the international community and more than that, they have become a tool of propaganda and mobilization used by powers in wars. The pace of disseminating these images through social media and mass media is accelerating, opening a window for researchers to understand their complex effects on the psychological state and individual behaviors of young people.
From this standpoint, the problem of the study lies in the primary question of understanding the psychological effects on young people of disseminating images of victims and casualties during the Gaza War.
3. Study Questions and Hypotheses
1) What is the impact of visual imagery on the psychological state of media students (Gaza War as a case study)?
2) What are the key aspects of the impact of visual imagery on the psychological state of media students (Gaza War as a case study)?
3) Are there statistically significant differences at the α ≤ 0.05 level in the degree of impact of visual imagery on the psychological state of media students (Gaza War as a case study) attributed to the variable of continuous news monitoring via social media platforms?
4) Are there statistically significant differences at the α ≤ 0.05 level in the degree of impact of visual imagery on the psychological state of media students (Gaza War as a case study) attributed to the variable of primary motivation for using social media platforms?
5) Are there statistically significant differences at the α ≤ 0.05 level in the degree of impact of visual imagery on the psychological state of media students (Gaza War as a case study) attributed to the variable of age?
6) Are there statistically significant differences at the α ≤ 0.05 level in the degree of impact of visual imagery on the psychological state of media students (Gaza War as a case study) attributed to the variable of gender?
4. Previous Studies
In a study conducted by Awad (2023) titled “Israeli Propaganda on Facebook: Israel Speaks Arabic Page as a Model”, the aim was to explore the general content of posts on the “Israel Speaks Arabic” page and identify the sources of information used therein. The study utilized the media survey method and content analysis tool to uncover the page’s contents. The results showed that the content of “Israel’s progress and prosperity” was the most prominent among the propaganda methods used, accounting for 25.9%. Additionally, the page notably focused on freedom of religion, especially Islam and the Druze religion, at a rate of 32.3%. This focus can be attributed to the majority of Arab citizens in Israel being Muslims, in addition to the Druze community stemming from it. The page also highlighted the importance of communication between the Islamic and Jewish religions and ways to facilitate dialogue between them to achieve peace.
The Arab Center for Social Media Development (2023) conducted a study titled “Analysis of Israeli Incitement Discourse against the town of ‘Hawara’ on Twitter”. The study aimed to explore the volume, nature, and patterns of incitement discourse in Hebrew on Twitter against the town of Hawara and its residents from (1/1/2023) to (1/3/2023). The study found that the number of tweets included in the analysis was 15,250 tweets, bearing the hashtags “Hawara” and “Erase Hawara” from 188 accounts with an average of 61 thousand followers. The results indicated that 80.2% of the tweets contained negative and inciting content, inciting violence against the town and its residents. The interaction with negative tweets amounted to approximately 316 thousand engagements in the form of likes. Incitement intensity peaked on the night of (27/2/2023) on the eve of settlers’ attack on the town of Hawara, with an average of 188 negative tweets per day against the town since the beginning of the attack until the end of March, through approximately 158 Twitter accounts.
Study Conducted by Klajnowska (2022) titled “The Hashtag Conflict: Social Media Players in the Israeli-Palestinian Crisis and the Battle for Public Opinion” aims to explore the role of social media platforms in empowering Palestinians to express their opinions and advocate for their cause. This indicates a shift in media and social balance regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, where these platforms serve as a significant source of news and information related to the conflict, while some traditional media outlets face criticism for providing biased or conflicting coverage. The study concludes the importance of hashtags and messages used on social media platforms in shaping public opinion and agenda setting, with language carefully chosen to influence the audience. Moreover, the study shows that social media platforms play a crucial role in shaping public opinion on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and have brought about changes in the media and social balance regarding the conflict.
A study conducted by 7amleh (2021) titled “The Attacks on Palestinian Digital Rights” aimed to explore violations of digital human rights on social media platforms during Israeli attacks on Palestinians in May (2021). This was done by collecting and analyzing content from 500 posts on these platforms. The results showed the circulation of misleading information targeting Palestinians, with Instagram ranking first at 50% in disseminating content violating Palestinian rights, followed by Facebook at 35%. The most prominent forms of violations on Instagram were “story deletion” at 45%, followed by “account restrictions” at 14%. While the most prominent forms of violations on Facebook were “account restrictions” at 37% and “content deletion” at 31%. The study noted that the highest percentage of violations on Instagram occurred without prior warning or notification to users at 46%, while the highest percentage of violations on Facebook occurred without specific reasons at 47%.
A study by Clarke (2021) titled “The Propaganda Model and its Application to the Israeli Media” aimed to explore the importance of propaganda in the media and its impact on guiding and shaping public opinion and media content. The study examined the extent of applying the propaganda model in Israeli media and its influence on shaping media narratives and controlling them to achieve political and economic goals. The results showed that the media model represents a complex entity and cannot be entirely classified as either true or false, leading to the success of the propaganda model in maintaining power and controlling the Israeli media narrative.
A study conducted by 7amleh (2018) titled “Facebook and Palestinians: Biased or Neutral Content Moderation Policies?” investigated the evolution of Facebook in amplifying the Palestinian voice and its use as a platform for expressing their views and advocating for their cause. The study concluded that there has been a shift in media and social balance regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, where Facebook is considered a significant source of news and information related to the conflict, especially amid criticisms faced by some traditional media outlets for providing biased or conflicting coverage. Consequently, the importance of Facebook as an effective means of conveying and shaping public opinion on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict cannot be denied. The study also highlighted that the language of hashtags and messages used on the Facebook platform plays a crucial role in guiding public opinion and shaping issues, with language carefully chosen to achieve the desired impact on the audience.
5. Study Methodology
This study falls within the realm of descriptive research, which focuses on describing a specific phenomenon. It involves the collection, classification, recording, interpretation, and analysis of data related to this phenomenon, and extracting reliable results (Thuillier et al., 2015).
The study adopts a survey methodology for media audiences, which is the optimal approach for gathering data on the opinions and perceptions of respondents regarding a particular subject or issue (Al-Kassabah, 2015). In the context of the study, the focus is on media students at universities in the southern West Bank.
5.1. Study Population and Sample
The study population consists of media students at universities in the West Bank. The study sample comprised 85 male and female media students from universities in the southern West Bank. Media students were targeted as the study population because they are young individuals who follow news on social media platforms. Additionally, they study ethics in media work and media education partially during their academic studies.
5.2. Study Instrument
The data collection tool in this study is the utilization of a questionnaire to gather data from the sample individuals representing a category in the universities of the southern West Bank. This tool was chosen due to its ability to provide a scientific, objective methodology without bias. The questionnaire was constructed in a manner to ensure its capability to achieve the study’s objectives and measure its hypotheses.
5.3. Validity of the Study Instrument
The researcher verified the validity of the study instrument by presenting it to a group of experts who provided some feedback. Based on their comments, the study instrument was finalized.
5.4. Reliability of the Study Instrument
The reliability of the study instrument was verified by examining the internal consistency of the instrument’s items by calculating the Cronbach’s Alpha coefficient for all survey axes. The reliability value was found to be 0.92, indicating a high level of reliability for the instrument.
6. Data Analysis
6.1. Participants’ Personal Data
From the previous Table 1, it is observed that the percentage of females was (68.2%), which is higher than the percentage of males, which was (31.8%). Regarding age, those aged 20 - 22 years constituted the highest percentage at (57.6%), followed by those aged 19 years and below at (34.1%), with the lowest percentage being those aged 23 years and above at (8.2%). As for the main motive for using social media among the participants, the highest percentage was for news follow-up at (28.2%), while the lowest percentage was for e-commerce motivation at (2.4%). Regarding the application continuously followed by the participants for news on social media, Telegram had the highest percentage at (47.1%), while Snapchat had the lowest percentage at (1.2%).
6.2. Analysis of Study Data
Primary Axis: Key Aspects of the Impact of Visual Images on the Psychological State of Media Students (Gaza War as a Case Study):
The data provided in the Table 2 indicate that the impact degree of visual imagery on the psychological state of media students (Gaza war as a case study) was moderate, with the mean score for this degree being 2.92. The most prevalent aspect was that the video or image is the most captivating tool for delivering news on social media platforms, with an average score of 4.52, followed by images of the casualties and victims during the Gaza war, which helped convey the news with credibility, with an average score of 4.36. The least common aspect was reposting images of casualties and victims to advocate for the cause, with an average score of 2.87.
Axis Two: Are there statistically significant differences at the α ≤ 0.05 level in
Table 1. Participants’ personal data.
Variable |
Categories |
Frequency |
Percentage |
Participants’ Gender |
Male |
27 |
31.8 |
Female |
58 |
68.2 |
Age |
19 years and below |
29 |
34.1 |
20 - 22 years |
49 |
57.6 |
23 years and above |
7 |
8.2 |
Participants’ Main Motive for Social Media Usage |
News follow-up |
24 |
28.2 |
Entertainment |
18 |
21.2 |
E-commerce |
2 |
2.4 |
Celebrity and influencers follow-up |
3 |
3.5 |
News sharing |
9 |
10.6 |
Socializing |
8 |
9.4 |
Sharing activities and expressing opinions |
10 |
11.8 |
Others |
11 |
12.9 |
Application continuously followed by participants for news on social media |
Facebook |
3 |
3.5 |
Instagram |
34 |
40.0 |
X platform |
2 |
2.4 |
TikTok |
3 |
3.5 |
WhatsApp |
2 |
2.4 |
Telegram |
40 |
47.1 |
Snapchat |
1 |
1.2 |
Total |
85 |
100% |
Table 2. Means and standard deviations for key aspects of the impact of visual images on the psychological state of media students (Gaza war as a case study).
The Aspects |
Mean |
Standard
Deviation |
Grade |
Weight
Percentage |
The video or image is the most captivating tool in delivering news on social media platforms. |
4.52 |
0.59 |
Large |
90.4% |
Images of casualties and victims during the Gaza War helped convey the news with credibility. |
4.36 |
0.63 |
Large |
87.2% |
Images of casualties and victims have a negative impact on viewers’ psychology. |
4.24 |
0.81 |
Large |
84.8% |
Posting images of casualties and victims has increased empathy towards the Palestinian cause. |
4.16 |
0.97 |
Large |
83.2% |
Images of casualties and victims during the Gaza War have caused stress and sleep disturbances. |
4.08 |
0.87 |
Large |
81.60% |
Images of casualties and victims served as a driving force in mobilizing public opinion. |
3.94 |
0.91 |
Large |
78.80% |
Images of casualties and victims during the Gaza War affect academic performance. |
3.80 |
1.13 |
Large |
76.00% |
Images of casualties and victims during the Gaza War have caused loss of appetite. |
3.78 |
0.94 |
Large |
75.60% |
Images of casualties and victims during the Gaza War have caused a lack of focus. |
3.64 |
1.05 |
Medium |
72.80% |
I believe publishing images of casualties and victims violates individuals’ dignity. |
3.59 |
1.12 |
Medium |
71.80% |
I believe publishing images of casualties and victims constitutes ethical violations. |
3.46 |
1.17 |
Medium |
69.20% |
Images of casualties and victims during the Gaza War have led to social isolation. |
3.24 |
1.09 |
Medium |
64.80% |
Reposting images of casualties and victims is seen as advocacy for the cause. |
2.87 |
1.10 |
Medium |
57.40% |
Total |
2.92 |
0.46 |
Medium |
58.40% |
the degree of the visual image’s impact on the psychological state of media students (Gaza war as a case study) attributed to the gender variable:
To verify the validity of the aforementioned hypothesis, a t-test for differences in the degree of the visual image’s impact on the psychological state of media students (Gaza war as a case study) attributed to the gender variable was conducted, as evident in Table 3.
Table 3. Results of the t-test for differences in the degree of the visual image’s impact on the psychological state of media students (Gaza war as a case study) attributed to the gender variable.
Gender |
Number |
Mean |
Standard Deviation |
Degrees of Freedom |
Calculated t-value |
Statistical Significance |
Male |
27 |
3.09 |
0.59 |
83 |
2.302 |
0.024 |
Female |
58 |
2.84 |
0.38 |
The data in the preceding table indicate statistically significant differences at the α ≤ 0.05 level in the impact of visual images on the psychological state of media students (Gaza war as a case study) attributed to the gender variable. The differences favored male students, whose mean impact score of visual images on psychological state was higher at 3.09, compared to female students at 2.84, as clearly evident from the previous table.
Axis Three: Are there statistically significant differences at the α ≤ 0.05 level in the impact of visual images on the psychological state of media students (Gaza war as a case study) attributed to the age variable:
To verify the above hypothesis, the one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) test was used to assess differences in the impact of visual images on the psychological state of media students (Gaza war as a case study) attributed to the age variable, as shown in Table 4.
Table 4. Results of one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) for differences in the impact of visual images on the psychological state of media students (Gaza war as a case study) attributed to the age variable.
Source of Variation |
Sum of Squares |
Degrees of Freedom |
Mean Square |
F Value |
Statistical Significance |
Between groups |
0.442 |
2 |
0.221 |
1.005 |
0.371 |
Within groups |
18.019 |
82 |
0.220 |
Total |
18.460 |
84 |
|
The data in the table above indicate no statistically significant differences at the α ≤ 0.05 level in the effect of visual images on the psychological state of media students (Gaza war as a case study) attributed to age variables. There was a clear convergence in the mean values across different age groups, as evident in Table 5.
Table 5. Counts, means, and standard deviations for the effect of visual images on the psychological state of media students (Gaza war as a case study) attributed to age variable.
Age |
Number |
Mean |
Standard Deviation |
19 years and below |
29 |
3.00 |
0.51 |
20 - 22 years |
49 |
2.86 |
0.37 |
23 years and above |
7 |
3.02 |
0.82 |
The fourth axis: Are there statistically significant differences at the α ≤ 0.05 level in the degree of the impact of visual images on the psychological state of media students (Gaza war as a case study) attributed to the primary motive for using social media platforms:
To verify the above hypothesis, the one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) test was used to assess differences in the degree of the impact of visual images on the psychological state of media students (Gaza war as a case study) attributed to the primary motive for using social media platforms, as shown in Table 6.
The data presented in the previous table indicate no statistically significant differences at the α ≤ 0.05 level in the degree of the impact of visual images on the psychological state of media students (Gaza war as a case study) attributed to the primary motive for using social media platforms. There was a clear convergence in the means across different motives for using social media platforms, as evident in Table 7.
Table 6. Results of one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) for differences in the degree of the impact of visual images on the psychological state of media students (Gaza war as a case study) attributed to the primary motive for using social media platforms.
Source of Variation |
Sum of Squares |
Degrees of Freedom |
Mean Square |
F Value |
Statistical Significance |
Between groups |
0.931 |
7 |
0.133 |
0.584 |
0.767 |
Within groups |
17.529 |
77 |
0.228 |
Total |
18.460 |
84 |
|
Table 7. Counts, means, and standard deviations for the degree of the impact of visual images on the psychological state of media students (Gaza war as a case study) attributed to the primary motive for using social media platforms.
Participants’ Main Motive
for Social Media Usage |
Number |
Mean |
Standard Deviation |
News follow-up |
24 |
2.84 |
0.46 |
Entertainment |
18 |
3.03 |
0.53 |
E-commerce |
2 |
2.76 |
0.65 |
Celebrity and influencers follow-up |
3 |
2.79 |
0.42 |
News sharing |
9 |
2.80 |
0.42 |
Socializing |
8 |
3.11 |
0.55 |
Sharing activities and expressing opinions |
10 |
2.88 |
0.50 |
Others |
11 |
2.98 |
0.31 |
The fifth axis: Are there statistically significant differences at the α ≤ 0.05 level in the degree of the impact of visual images on the psychological state of media students (Gaza war as a case study) attributed to the application used for continuous news follow-up through social media platforms:
To verify the validity of the aforementioned hypothesis, the one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) test was used to assess the differences in the degree of the impact of visual images on the psychological state of media students (Gaza war as a case study) attributed to the application used for continuous news follow-up through social media platforms, as evident in Table 8.
The data presented in the previous table indicate the absence of statistically significant differences at the α ≤ 0.05 level in the degree of the impact of visual images on the psychological state of media students (Gaza war as a case study) attributed to the application used for continuous news follow-up through social media platforms. There was a clear convergence in the means across different applications used for continuous news follow-up through social media platforms, as evident in Table 9.
Table 8. Results of one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) test for differences in the degree of the impact of visual images on the psychological state of media students (Gaza war as a case study) attributed to the application used for continuous news follow-up through social media platforms.
Source of Variation |
Sum of Squares |
Degrees of Freedom |
Mean Square |
F Value |
Statistical Significance |
Between groups |
2.459 |
6 |
0.410 |
1.998 |
0.076 |
Within groups |
16.001 |
78 |
0.205 |
Total |
18.460 |
84 |
|
Table 9. Numbers, mean scores, and standard deviations for the impact of visual images on the psychological state of media students (Gaza war as a case study) attributed to the application used for continuous news follow-up through social media platforms.
Application continuously followed by participants for news on social media |
Number |
Mean |
Standard Deviation |
Facebook |
3 |
2.33 |
0.42 |
Instagram |
34 |
2.87 |
0.39 |
X platform |
2 |
3.26 |
0.05 |
TikTok |
3 |
3.00 |
0.53 |
WhatsApp |
2 |
2.53 |
0.32 |
Telegram |
40 |
3.02 |
0.50 |
Snapchat |
1 |
2.30 |
. |
7. Conclusion
The results of this study indicate that images of casualties and victims during the Gaza War have a significant impact on various psychological, social, and cognitive aspects of viewers. The high scores given to some statements suggest that these images are an effective tool for conveying news and increasing empathy towards the Palestinian cause. However, they also cause negative effects such as increased tension, sleep disturbance, loss of appetite, decreased focus, and social isolation. The research also shows that images and videos are the main attraction tools in conveying news through social media platforms, and that these images may lead to changes in the structure and functions of the viewers’ brains, causing negative effects on mental health.
Additionally, the results indicate that repeated exposure to these images can lead to decreased concentration and social isolation, as individuals tend to withdraw from social activities and experience feelings of loneliness. The impact of the images extends to neural structures and brain functions, causing changes in brain architecture that negatively affect mental health in the long term. Therefore, violent images are considered a double-edged sword; while they enhance public empathy towards humanitarian issues, they simultaneously carry severe psychological effects that must be addressed with care. Additionally, the results indicate that repeated exposure to these images can lead to decreased concentration and social isolation, as individuals tend to withdraw from social activities and experience feelings of loneliness. The impact of the images extends to neural structures and brain functions, causing changes in brain architecture that negatively affect mental health in the long term. Therefore, violent images are considered a double-edged sword; while they enhance public empathy towards humanitarian issues, they simultaneously carry severe psychological effects that must be addressed with care.
The results of this paper, as indicated by the questionnaire responses from the studied sample of 85 media students from universities in the southern West Bank, representing 84.8% of the total, show that casualties and victims’ images have a negative impact on viewers’ psyche, which is a significant percentage.
Furthermore, the results of the research paper, from the perspective of the surveyed sample, indicate that 64.8% believe that publishing images of casualties and victims is unethical, which is considered a moderate degree. Additionally, 57.4% of the surveyed sample stated that they repost images of casualties and victims on their platforms.
Therefore, The Violent images pose significant challenges beyond immediate emotional responses, affecting various aspects of mental and societal well-being. One key issue is desensitization; repeated exposure to graphic content can lead to emotional numbing, reducing individuals’ sensitivity to violence and suffering over time. This desensitization may impair empathy and the ability to respond compassionately to real-world events.
Another concern is secondary traumatic stress. Viewers, especially those in journalism or humanitarian fields, may experience trauma similar to that of direct witnesses or victims, leading to symptoms like intrusive thoughts, flashbacks, and emotional exhaustion.
Furthermore, media consumption habits can be adversely affected. Constant exposure to violent content may lead individuals to develop compulsive behaviors, such as doomscrolling, where they continuously seek out distressing news, exacerbating anxiety and helplessness.
Cognitive effects are also notable. Violent images can impair memory and concentration, making it difficult for individuals to retain information or perform tasks effectively. This cognitive overload can hinder decision-making and problem-solving abilities.
Children and adolescents are particularly vulnerable, as exposure to violent images can disrupt normal psychological development, leading to increased aggression, fear, and misconceptions about safety and conflict in the world.
Finally, there are ethical considerations regarding the dissemination of such images. Media outlets face the dilemma of balancing the need to inform the public with the potential harm caused by exposing audiences to graphic content. This raises questions about responsible journalism and the importance of providing appropriate warnings and context for violent imagery.
These aspects underscore the complex and far-reaching effects of violent images, highlighting the need for thoughtful strategies in managing their impact on society.
Also, Artificial intelligence (AI) significantly influences the handling of violent images by enabling automated content moderation and filtering across various platforms, thereby reducing users’ exposure to graphic content. AI algorithms can swiftly identify and flag violent imagery, preventing its widespread dissemination. To avoid the potential negative impact of these images, AI can be employed to blur or obscure violent content, offering users the choice to view or skip it. Additionally, integrating AI-driven mental health resources can provide immediate support to individuals who have been exposed to such content, helping to mitigate adverse psychological effects. This proactive approach ensures a safer online environment while preserving the informative value of media content.
8. Recommendations
Based on the findings of the study regarding the impact of visual images on the psychological state of media students, several important recommendations can be made. There should be increased awareness of the power of images and videos in conveying news and fostering empathy towards humanitarian issues, while also emphasizing the potential negative impact of these images on mental health. It is crucial to emphasize the importance of practicing social media journalism ethically and responsibly, avoiding the dissemination of images that may cause negative effects on viewers, by respecting privacy laws and professional ethics. Furthermore, further research in this area can be pursued through additional studies to better understand the psychological and social effects of shocking images in the media, as well as developing strategies to effectively address these effects.