Impact of social media on knife crime in the UK

Key digested message Knife crime in the UK has risen by 80% in the last ten years. There has also been a huge increase in knife-related media and social media coverage. The media often promotes knife-related violence to try and deter young people from carrying a knife. Studies have shown that social media platforms that show knife imagery in their ‘anti-knife campaigns’ do not always stop young people from carrying them. It captures their attention, and they often become de-sensitised to violence involving knives and sharp instruments. Small disputes can turn into real-world violent acts, as seen in real-life cases such as the murder of 13-year-old Olly Stephens in 2021, which was orchestrated by three teenagers via social media. Research suggests that social media platforms may facilitate the spread of violent content, often without regulation. Social media algorithms amplify engagement with knife-related content, which then causes harmful exposure to knife-related violence online for young people. There is an urgent need for better social media regulations to moderate online violence and stop young people from engaging and becoming de-sensitized to violence. Addressing this issue is detrimental in reducing the normalisation of knife crime.