Does the consumption of the crime news lead to fear of victimization among Egyptian youth?

Authors

Faculty of Mass Communication, Ahram Canadian University

Abstract

Social media has become an integral part of our lives, serving as a primary source of engagement and information, especially for individuals who lack direct experience with various issues. However, researchers have raised concerns about whether communication messages on social media rely too heavily on fear appeals, focusing more on problems and threats rather than conveying information clearly. This phenomenon has been criticized for contributing to the creation of a “culture of fear” since the 1990s, perpetuating a sense of generalized risk within local communities. This paper explores the role of social media in fostering a climate of fear through exposure to crime news and its impact on generating fear of victimization among Egyptian youth. The cultivation theory serves as a framework to examine whether exposure to violence influences individuals’ fears of victimization and to identify factors such as prior victimization, age, gender, and social media engagement with crime news that may influence the level of fear generated. Additionally, a new variable termed “normalization” is introduced, which may have varying effects on individuals exposed to crime news.

Keywords

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics