What is Virtual Violence? Causes and consequences
Virtual violence encompasses many different acts, especially those performed on social media and other internet platforms. These actions include threats, harassment, defamation, insults, blackmail, hate speech, posting of unsolicited photos or videos, and other similar conduct.
What is Virtual Violence?
Virtual violence refers to any act of violence committed using the internet and digital technologies. While these acts of violence in the virtual world do not harm the person’s physical existence, they can have serious psychological, emotional and social consequences. With the proliferation of virtual violence, this issue has entered the agenda of society and is judged as a violation of human rights.
Virtual violence is usually committed by individuals who are unknown or act anonymously in the virtual environment. It is believed that virtual violence can have similar effects to traditional violence. Victims of violence can develop serious psychological problems and their sense of security can suffer. The effects seen in cyber-violence victims can include serious problems such as depression, anxiety disorder, loss of self-confidence, suicidal thoughts and even suicide attempts.
It can affect people of all ages and has become a common problem, especially among young people. Because while most young people make intensive use of the internet and social media, the sense of anonymity that the internet brings can make it easier to commit virtual violence.
Reasons for the spread of virtual violence
With the proliferation of the internet and digital technologies in recent years, virtual violence has increased. Many factors are effective in the spread of virtual violence. By examining these factors, it is possible to understand the causes of virtual violence.
Anonymity
The Internet and digital technologies enable people to act anonymously. For this reason, people can act in a virtual world with a different identity than in real life and commit various acts of violence.
Social media
Social media has become an important factor with the increase in internet usage. Shares and comments on social media platforms can be violent from time to time, which can lead to the spread of virtual violence.
internet addiction
Due to the widespread use of the internet and digital technologies, many people have become addicted to the internet. This dependence can lead to more time being spent in the virtual world and thus an increase in virtual violence.
Lack of communication
People have had many communication channels thanks to the internet and digital technologies. However, the increase in these communication channels can lead to a decrease in face-to-face communication in real life. This, in turn, can lead to people becoming unable to communicate directly with other people and becoming violent in the virtual world.
digital loneliness
Thanks to the internet and digital technologies, people can have many social interactions. However, most of these social interactions take place online and in real life, the feeling of loneliness can increase. This can cause people to use violence in the virtual world.
What are the effects of virtual violence?
Virtual violence can have many negative effects, both personal and social. The effects of virtual violence can be:
- Virtual violence can negatively affect people’s psychological health.
- Young people in particular can feel vulnerable if they are victims of cyber violence.
- It can lead to anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts and other psychological problems.
- It can negatively affect people’s social interactions and lead them to social isolation.
- They tend to cut off contact with other people and live a living life in the virtual world.
- They may also experience negative effects in their school or work life.
- Victimization can disrupt people’s concentration, damage their self-esteem, and reduce their academic or job success.
- It can also negatively affect people’s physical health.
- They may experience sleep disturbances, headaches, upset stomach and other physical problems.
- Violent content distributed on social media can increase young people’s violent tendencies and create a culture of social violence.
The concept of virtual violence
Virtual reality has led to very important developments in our propensity for violence. War training is taught to us with computer games that we call virtual reality. The word virtual is a term used for the unreal, imaginary world on computer screens. Bringing reality next to the word virtual explains the effect of virtual structures on our real life. In other words, violent games in video games not only remain a game on the computer, but also allow us to experience it and be influenced by the content of those games, creating a concept between virtual and reality. We can call it virtual reality.
Presenting the concept of violence in our real life to people in computer games, and then people prone to violence can lose consciousness to the extent that they can commit violence or even murder in real life based on the games they play . Although it is called “virtual” and assumed, violent virtual reality games have been proven to cause great destruction in human psychology. When viewed, it has been observed that people around the world tend to play virtual violence games and they like these games more. The purpose of these games is nothing but people’s propensity for violence which they subconsciously suppress.
Even though man has developed himself and shown his modern side, primitive ids and motives will always remain in him. These are the things that lead people to such violent games. Stop kidding yourself, if you enjoy playing violent games, it shows that you are prone to violence. You should not get lost in these games, if you start playing at a very advanced level, we definitely recommend that you consult an expert. Otherwise, it may have irreparable consequences in the future.
What is the reason for the prevalence of virtual violence?
Reasons for the prevalence of virtual violence include the widespread use of the internet, the increasing use of social media, the provision of anonymity, the easy accessibility of means of communication and the sharing of personal information.
What are the types of virtual violence?
Types of cyber violence include cyberbullying, threats, harassment, blackmail, revenge porn, hate speech, and digital attacks.
What are the effects of virtual violence?
The effects of cyber-violence include psychological distress, social isolation, decline in school or work success, physical health problems, and the formation of a culture of social violence.
How can I be protected from cyber violence?
Avoid sharing personal information, strengthen your passwords, carefully manage your online behavior, block and report suspicious messages, and take cybersecurity measures to protect against cyber-violence.
What are the criminal penalties for cyber violence?
Criminal penalties for cyber-violence can vary by country. But often, criminal penalties for cyber-violence can include prison sentences, fines, seizure and banning of electronic devices.