FACES AND FACTS AND MANY FACETS BREAKING NEWS THE FEED KILLED THE HIERARCHY     BREAKING NEWS BREAKING NEWS IS RARELY BREAKING, NOR IS IT NEWS  
THE NEW NEWS NORM 
News media turns murders into profit-margins. It’s always been the way. But the appearance of a laptop on every desk and a phone in every pocket has led traditional, once-blocky, type-based publications to rely on fearmongering, graphic imagery and sensationalist headlines to tease their audience. The feed killed the hierarchy. Everything is seen horizontally. Now the headline is what’s trending, what gets most likes, whatever the algorithm wants you to see.
NEW NEWS MEDIA KILLED THE HIERARCHY  WE’RE SO TIRED OF SEEING  SO F*@^&N’ MUCH!  
You will never be able to un-see something. Traumatic imagery can linger and lurk around in your brain for years. With social media’s widespread use, news outlets and public alike throw graphic scenes at us all day. The only difference being that OfCom has far more regulatory power over what appears on UK television and newsprint media.  
            This leaves platforms like TikTok relatively unfiltered. Although they may be removed after a few hours, posting violent videos there is relatively easy.  These social media apps have become the new news norm. “The changing nature of social media is partly characterised by declining engagement with traditional networks such as Facebook and the rise of TikTok and a range of other video-led networks.” (Newman, 2023). Social media platforms make money from our engagement. We get pleasure by watching violence, much like sex or humour, food, or the infinite products on sale. “Habitual media violence exposure predicted faster accessibility of aggressive cognitions, partly mediated by higher pleasant arousal”  (Krahé, 2015). This arousal drives reaction, which drives interaction, which drives profits. We can’t look away, so they get paid. 


Newman, N., 2023. Overview and key findings of the 2023 Digital News Report. Reuters Institute. Krahé, B., 2015. Links with Habitual Media Violence Exposure and Aggressive Behavior. University of Potsdam.

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