The Dark Side of Social Media

So as many people already know on the evening of October 1st, the biggest mass shooting of all time was unfortunately recorded. With an astounding 59 people being killed and nearly 500 more injured during the shooting. The shooting took place during the Route 91 Harvest Festival just outside of Las Vegas. While social media has been a great tool to get out information about those involved as well how to help the victims of this disaster, it sickness me to read some people took the event as an opportunity to spread false information and hoaxes about the tragedy. The advances in technology over the past few years have been tremendous. We have seen how they have really improved our lives and been able to truly make the world a better place. By being able to process the news also instantaneously when a big tragedy strikes, we can then send help to those in need and catch the person responsible a lot quicker. However, being that word can break almost seconds after it has happened it begins the beg the questions of is all the information that is getting out even correct, and even worse to think, are we making the problem worse?

It feels like just the other day, the then largest shooting took place down in Orlando at a popular night club called Pulse. From which 49 were killed and 58 were injured. Being that this attack only took place a few short moths ago it really makes you wonder if this sort of huge media coverage is what this shooters are really going after. By putting their names and faces into the media we are therefore giving them the attention they ultimately are seeking. The more and more media attention we give the larger and larger the shootings seem to become. There are so many things wrong with these shootings, beginning with how these people are even getting their hands on these assault riffles, but at the end of the day the people that should be recognized are the victims and families that have been attacked. Stop covering those who have wronged the world and focus your attention and relief efforts on the families who have had loved ones ripped from their lives. It is a sad world we live in when someone can go out and mass murder other humans and then receive attention for doing it. My heart goes out to the friends and families of the victims of this yet again senseless attack on man kind. Below is a list of the some of the victims so we can remember who was taken from us rather than the man who took them...

Victims of Las Vegas Shooting

There are several ways you can help these families of those fallen. Here are some of the suggested ways given by the staff over at People...

• Friends and family are asked to report missing people believed to be connected to the shooting using the hotline 1-800-536-9488.
• Anyone with photo or video evidence of the shooting is asked to call 1-800-CALL-FBI.
• The city of Las Vegas has established a Family Reunification Center to help connect relatives with the more than 500 people who were injured.
• In addition, city officials urged those locally who wish to donate blood to visit one of two donation centers operated by United Blood Services, either at 6930 W. Charleston in Las Vegas or at 601 Whitney Ranch Drive in Henderson, Nevada.
• A victims’ fund has been started on GoFundMe by Steve Sisolak the Clark County, Nevada, commission chair. Other groups providing relief include the local chapter of the American Red Cross and the National Compassion Fund.