As a global community, we have faced a turbulent few years, ruled chiefly by the COVID-19 pandemic and the restrictions it brought. Now as we enter Spring 2022, the recent Russian invasion of Ukraine has taken over media attention and national concern. We live in a time of constant news streams and updates. It’s hard not to be filled with uncertainty and heartache every time you switch on the television or look at your phone. While we are all struggling to process the news, it is especially concerning for children and young people.
To help you guide those in your care through this uncertain time, our online safety experts have created this support for parents, carers, teachers, and safeguarding professionals. You’ll find a synopsis of important terms and questions, as well as our top tips for helping children and young people cope with distressing news.
What is the Russian invasion of Ukraine?
On February 24, 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered his military forces to begin an invasion of neighbouring country Ukraine. This is an escalation of the Russo-Ukrainian war that began in 2014 after a pro-Russian president of Ukraine was removed from office and Russian soldiers seized Crimea.
Since the invasion, there has been worldwide condemnation of Putin and his supporters. Protests have spread across the world (with protests in Russia resulting in arrest from police forces) as international support for Ukraine grows. Heavy sanctions (penalties to trade, sporting, and economic goods that are put in place by international leaders to try and pressure other leaders to a conduct agreement) have triggered a financial crisis in Russia, which has led Putin to put Russia’s nuclear forces on ‘high alert’ and has increased global fears of a nuclear war. Over 2 million Ukrainian citizens have fled their country. Thousands are suspected dead, with estimates expected to be higher. Many are trapped without access to necessities or medical aid. Recently, a maternity and children’s hospital was hit by a Russian airstrike resulting in multiple injuries and casualties.
Live reports are coming in every few minutes. Major news networks have constant news updates available for the public to see, despite difficulties in confirming news reports. However, the news is not the only avenue reports are appearing on. Social media is full of harrowing imagery and stories to encourage global support of Ukraine. While this is done to raise awareness of the atrocities happening in Ukraine, some of this content is extremely distressing. It’s worth nothing that if a child or young person engages with these posts on social media, the algorithms in place on these platforms will show them more.
How to understand algorithms
The algorithms in social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok run constantly to try and curate the ‘perfect’ feed for every individual. Unfortunately, this means that anytime a person watches a video or likes a photo that could be linked to distressing material, more material like this will appear. It makes it harder to escape from the constant stream of news available online. It may also expose children and young people to upsetting content they are not prepared to see.
There is no way to ‘switch off’ algorithms. That’s why it’s important to have a discussion with those in your care about responsible social media browsing, and how algorithms factor into what they see online.
To learn more about algorithms, check out our online safety article!
How children react to distressing world events
- Fixated, spending more time on phones or tablets to stay ‘up to date’.
- Anxious, especially about future plans or dreams.
- Irritable, over-reacting to minor inconveniences or issues.
- Withdrawn, not engaging with their friends, school, or extracurriculars.
- Distracted, with disruptions to regular eating, sleeping, or personal hygiene habits.
- Obsessive, thinking over every circumstance and talking about possible outcomes.
- Pessimistic, sharing a more negative or hopeless outlook on life.
Why is war difficult to process?
- Confusion around the politics of war can create a ‘fog of war’ that is difficult to lift from daily life, especially if it is a popular conversation topic.
- Information is often weaponised by governments to project control, create confusion, and mislead enemies. This can lead to fake news being spread from both sides.
- It can take several days to verify reports, which can lead to the spread of possible misinformation. By the time the facts are verified, more reports have overtaken that one, and consumers are more likely to remember the initial reporting.
- There is often a lack of sensitivity around distressing or harmful content. Images of bombings, deaths, and distressed civilians become common and widespread across social media and television channels. It can be difficult to forget these images even years later.
- News is more constant and widespread than ever. The world gets reports from civilians of all ages on both sides of conflict via Twitter, TikTok, and more, with people sharing those stories wherever they can. This makes the conflict feel ‘closer to home’.
Why is it important to talk to children and young people about what’s happening?
Children and young people are naturally curious. They want to know about what is going on in the world as much as they want to know the latest TikTok trend. Even if you try to limit the content they consume, they will inevitably hear about big world events from various outlets, such as television, social media, friends, family, and school environments. They might even overhear something from one of your conversations! If it’s what everyone is talking about, their interest in the topic increases.
This wide variety of sources makes it difficult to validate information and know what content the young person in your care is viewing. If you don’t acknowledge any questions or concerns they may have, they could ‘fill in the gaps’ with the wrong information. This might cause further anxiety, ignorance, or worrisome behaviour. Educating those in your care yourself is important to assure they know how to process news reports on their own with critical thinking and media literacy skills.
Some children may be curious, but not worried. Others may be uninterested in what is happening. Whether your child asks you about it or you bring it into conversation, remember to stay calm, listen to them, and reassure them that you are there if they need support or further guidance.
