We must not let social media desensitise us to Palestinian suffering

The Jenin refugee camp, home to 14,000 Palestinian refugees, has been resisting assaults and violence ever since Israel occupied the West Bank in 1967. The latest incursion into Jenin began on the 2 July with air strikes storming into the densely-packed area.

The scenes of destruction and violence evoked memories of the 2002 battle of Jenin, engraved in the collective memory of those who bore witness. In the two-day military offence, Israel used rockets, drones and a brigade of soldiers and armoured vehicles.

Naturally, social media channels transformed into virtual war zones, inundating us with real-time images and videos capturing Israel’s aggression and the tenacious resistance by Palestinian fighters.

In the face of a deeply complex media and ethical landscape, I found myself struggling with the significant implications of social media as I encountered one particularly disturbing video amidst the unfolding assault on Jenin refugee camp.

"The framing of suffering in media representations on social media becomes even more crucial, especially for Palestinians, as this framing shapes the global understanding and response to their ongoing struggles for justice and freedom"

The video depicted three men, who looked like children from a distance, stacked upon one another. This horrific scene reminded me that I was not only helplessly observing from a distance, but also bearing witness to their vulnerability and enduring suffering.

I contemplated the responsibility I held in sharing the footage with my Palestinian followers, who already shoulder the weight of their own struggles. I also deliberated on the potential impact on my international audience, aiming to convey the harsh realities endured by Palestinians in the hope for empathy and action.

Such deliberations lay bare the weighty decisions we confront, where the power of a single click underscores the delicate balance of ethical dilemmas we encounter within the realm of social media.

Representations of suffering in the media play a crucial role in shaping perceptions and responses of audiences. These depictions are not objective but rather framed in specific ways that can evoke particular emotional and cognitive responses.

On Wed, hundreds rallied in front of the UK Israeli embassy to protest Israel's assault on Jenin. Speakers, like former Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn, also too aim at the UK government's proposal to ban the right of public bodies to adopt BDS principles against Israel 👇 pic.twitter.com/BJ5ZuDQZ7g

— The New Arab (@The_NewArab) July 7, 2023

On social media, where the phenomena of citizen journalism is ever present, there is a lack of established institutional frameworks and editorial oversight that ensures adherence to ethical standards.

Consequently, concerns related to accuracy, authenticity, and consent surrounding the dissemination of distressing images (or any message) comes to the forefront.

As a result, the framing of suffering in media representations on social media becomes even more crucial, especially for Palestinians, as this framing shapes the global understanding and response to their ongoing struggles for justice and freedom.

Concepts from Lilie Choulariaki’s work on media representations of suffering are helpful in understanding the effects of these representations on both Palestinians and foreign audiences.

Chouliaraki argues that over time, the repeated exposure to distressing images and narratives through various media channels can lead to a sense of exhaustion and desensitisation. This overexposure results in media fatigue, which then impacts the framing of suffering and can reinforce certain narratives and perpetuate a cycle of emotional exhaustion.

In the case of Palestine, the constant influx of distressing content on social media, combined with the absence of editorial oversight, intensifies the emotional burden on Palestinians.

When distressing images and narratives become normalised, there is a risk of the inability to fully comprehend and empathise with ongoing struggles happening a few kilometres away.

For foreign audiences, symbolic empathy often emerges as the primary response to representations of suffering in the media. Chouliaraki argues that representations of suffering can evoke superficial or symbolic forms of empathy, temporarily moving viewers emotionally or eliciting expressions of sympathy that don’t translate into meaningful action.

This perpetuates the notion of passive spectatorship, where viewers may not be motivated to go beyond the immediate emotional response to alleviate the suffering they witness.

After a recent offensive on Jenin refugee camp, Israel continues to justify its actions through propaganda & criminalising Palestinians. But Palestinians exercising self-defence is not terrorism, they have a right to resist, argues @emadmoussa 👇 https://t.co/aUr1Ut8SiF

— The New Arab (@The_NewArab) July 14, 2023

But Palestinians seek genuine solidarity and action rather than mere symbolic empathy. In this context, media fatigue is a significant challenge, contributing to feelings of helplessness and apathy among foreign audiences, ultimately leading to disengagement from the Palestinian cause.

In the context of Jenin, it is essential to address the role of Palestinian resistance in the face of ongoing assaults and violence. Like suffering, the media plays a crucial role in shaping the narrative surrounding resistance.

Despite challenges Palestinians have made immense use of social media platforms as a tool to amplify their voices and cross borders. Citizen journalism has emerged as a powerful means of countering harmful portrayals of the Palestinian struggle.

But social media can also be harmful to the cause of resistance. For instance, sharing images or videos that reveal the identities or locations of fighters will aid the Israeli occupation forces in targeting them.

"There needs to be responsible reporting and nuanced storytelling that goes beyond repetitive imagery. It is still possible to cultivate genuine understanding and empathy that would generate transformative action through conscientious media practices"

Ensuring anonymity and protecting identities of those participating in resistance activities is vital to safeguard their well-being, and this responsibility falls on everyone, especially media practitioners.

In a landscape where media fatigue and symbolic empathy may impede global audiences from fully comprehending the Palestinian struggle, it is vital for Palestinian narratives to reach worldwide audiences authentically.

There needs to be responsible reporting and nuanced storytelling that goes beyond repetitive imagery. It is still possible to cultivate genuine understanding and empathy that would generate transformative action through conscientious media practices.

Instead of always focusing on circulating images of suffering, media practitioners and active citizens on social media should shift the focus on narratives of resilience, resistance, and hope to foster a deeper and more sustained empathy and solidarity among people across the world who stand in solidarity with Palestine.

Sarah Amr is a Palestinian writer interested in media discourse and liberation movements. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Media and Communications from the University of Sussex.

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Opinions expressed in this article remain those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The New Arab, its editorial board or staff.