A Former Cop’s View on the Possible Link Between Social Media and Mass Shootings
Being constantly connected has left us lonelier than ever before
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In the 1930s and 40s, smoking was considered safe. Of course, the manufacturers suspected this wasn’t true, so they did what any self-respecting company pursuing profits would do — they lied.
They didn’t just lie a little; they paid doctors to be in ads recommending specific brands of cigarettes. I mean, if doctors are doing it, how bad can it be?
Well, it turns out that it can be pretty damn bad. It took years of research, and countless lives lost before society acknowledged the deadly truth about smoking.
Today, we face a similar situation with social media.
Why did I write this?
For almost 13 years, I was a street cop, fugitive hunter, and detective. I was also certified in Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT). Every year, responding to simulated mass shootings or active shooter events was a part of my training.
We were presented with studies of these incidents and incorporated what we’d learned into our training. As someone with a background in psychology and…
