After mass violence, trauma spreads socially. Here are 3 ways you will help reduce it

After mass violence like Sunday’s Bondi Beach terror attack, the priority doesn’t stop with those directly affected.

Fear, anger and uncertainty spread through the media and social networks. This can harm survivors and targeted communities.

Those closest to an incident are sometimes supported by services and community. But the broader public also shapes what happens next.

Here are 3 ways you will help reduce secondary damage.

A ripple effect

Research On disasters and mass violence Shows that suffering can extend beyond those directly affected.

For many individuals it’s real but temporary, while a small proportion develop lasting symptoms. Human threat detection systems evolved to reply quickly to threat, Prioritizing survival over nuance.

When the threat systems are activated, they activate the body and focus narrowly. You may feel hyper-alert, lose sleep, have intrusive thoughts or images, feel irritable, or feel driven to hunt information and certainty. These responses say nothing a couple of person’s strength. They are common patterns of nervous systems that reply to uncertainty, although people’s responses vary widely in intensity.

A way of danger It also spreads socially. Humans are sensitive to the sentiments of others, especially in ambiguous situations. After the terrorist attacks in Bondi, people indicate to others what is going on, who’s in danger, and what to do. It can stabilize stable people, but it will probably also increase fear.

Modern crises are further shaped by media exposure. Research shows Heavy exposure to mass violence coverage is related to greater short-term stress and later posttraumatic stress symptoms.

It may even be shown to individuals who should not directly involved. Discomfort can result in frequent news scrutiny, and news coverage may end up in prolonged anxiety. Either way, repeated replays can alter the threat response long after the immediate threat has passed.

Distance matters

Distance from an event just isn’t just geographical. This includes what you see or hear, what you perceive as an ongoing threat, and the way close the event is felt by your community or identity group.

For survivors and bereaved families, the initial phase is usually dominated by shock, grief, and practical demands. Coping can look less like emotional “processing” and more like hours of survival that feel surreal.

Witnesses, first responders and locals can develop place-based fears, where familiar places begin to feel dangerous. Communities which might be targeted may experience a shared sense of vulnerability. In these cases, being on high alert reflects a perceived change of their sense of security.

Remote observers should not immune. Vivid imagery and emotionally charged conversations can trigger the body’s threat response even at a distance. The nervous system goes into fight-or-flight mode, but there is no such thing as a direct motion or clear vision for it.

Rumors, anger and sacrifice

Under threat, uncertainty itself becomes stressful. Clear stories feel safer than unresolved ones, even when the facts are incomplete. This makes people more more likely to spread rumors after attacks.

Research shows Being exposed to rumours Associated with higher distress during crises, which can create more trying to find information and a feedback loop.

Initial false claims may persist emotionally even after correction, as high stress reinforces emotional memory. Social media accelerates these dynamics. On many platforms, fast, emotionally charged content travels much further than slow, verified fixes, as most platforms reward engagement over accuracy.

For example, a Sydney man named Naveed Akram, who was False accusation online After being considered one of the alleged Bondi Beach gunmen, he was abused, and was afraid to depart home.

Artificial intelligence (AI) tools can add to the confusion. For example, X’s chatbot Grok misidentified the bystander which disarmed considered one of the attackers, and falsified the confirmed footage of the attack. It serves as a reminder that confident AI output can go flawed in fast-moving crises.

Outrage spread for similar reasons. Anger can concentrate on fear and reduce helplessness. For those directly affected, it will probably support survival. For those at a distance, it will probably develop into performative or inflammatory, especially when rewarded with attention.

It is a sacrifice Another common answer – Blaming the whole group for one person’s actions. Under high stress, focus narrows and fascinated about complex explanations could be difficult.

Blaming can feel empowering since it reduces uncertainty, making victimization more likely. But it will probably increase the chance to innocent people and deepen the fear of targeted communities, resulting in secondary harm.

Minimizing secondary damage

Disaster psychology Separates the event itself from the conditions that constitute the retrieval. These terms include security, trust, connectivity and manageable visibility.

Psychiatric First Aidwidely utilized in disaster response, focuses on reducing feelings of overwhelm, strengthening social support and connecting people to reliable information and services.

These rules don’t just apply to individuals – they apply to the population level once they watch and share online.

There are three evidence-based ways in which the broader public will help:

1. Minimize unwanted exposure. Repeated sharing of graphic footage can worsen trauma for survivors and families and increase fear in targeted communities. Avoid reposting graphic content where possible. Before sharing, ask: Is it verified and mandatory, or simply fear mongering?

2. Slow down information. Initial information is usually incomplete. Prioritize validation over speed to cut back false claims that may increase post-correction fears.

3. Avoid group blame. Condemning violence doesn’t require suspicion of entire groups. Sacrifice breaks trust and undermines everyone’s recovery, increasing risk.

The Bondi Beach terror attack goals to spread fear beyond its victims. With these steps, we will help fight it and be sure that communities heal after such horror.