“We All Have PTSD": Examining Mental Health Impacts of Viral Police Killings on Black Students in High School and College

• In Event: Shaping Inclusive Futures: Multicultural Perspectives on Education and Well-Being

Abstract

This paper examines the consequences of vicarious exposure to police brutality on social media among Black youth, focusing on physical, socio-emotional, and educational effects. The study employs Critical Race Technology Theory (CRTT) to analyze algorithmic anti-blackness and its impact on Black youth's lives and educational experiences. Using mixed methods, qualitative interviews with Black high school and undergraduate students, and quantitative scale data from undergraduates nationwide, the research uncovers profound effects of police brutality exposure on Black youth's well-being. Implications for counselors and educators include emphasizing empathy, mental health support, media literacy education, and fostering activism to create a supportive environment for Black adolescents facing digitally mediated trauma.

Authors

• Amanda M. McLeroy, University of Rochester

• Tiera C. Tanksley, University of Colorado - Boulder

• Ye Ding, University of Rochester