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This archive revealed that the number of shootings did in fact increase over time, especially after 2011 (Figure 1). From 2011 to 2018, the numbers noticeably increase and become more consistent. During this time, social media use also became prevalent in society. As Lang (2015) explained, during the year of 2011 Twitter doubled its users, Facebook exceeded 750 million users, and Instagram celebrated its one-year anniversary.

As seen in Figure 1, the average number of annual mass shootings from 2004-2010 was 2.5, compared to 7.5 from 2011-2018. The evidence shows that mass shootings did in fact triple after 2011, suggesting a possible relationship between the spread of mass shooting news on social media platforms and the increase in these crimes.

Conclusion

Through analysis of media coverage, both traditional and social, of the shootings at Columbine, Virginia Tech, and Parkland, one can conclude that the media era in which a shooting took place had an enormous effect on how shootings were covered in the news. This study suggests that there is a pattern between the spread of mass shooting news on social media platforms and the increase in these crimes. Over time, as social media has increased in usage, so has the coverage of news concerning mass shootings. This also further reflects shooters’ desire for fame and their tendency to copy a crime.

Evidence from this study reveals a large increase in the number of mass shootings after 2011’s social media milestones, and one can conclude that social media most likely has some effect on these crimes, although the degree of this relationship is beyond the scope of this study. Other factors, such as treatment of mental illness, or current gun regulations, may well be contributing factors in the rise of mass shootings also. In any case, these findings raise difficult questions about keeping the public informed in a media environment that only seems to encourage these horrific acts.

It's my personal belief that social media has further divided people, creating feelings of isolation and despair.   The "mirage" of lifestyles that people portray on social media create feelings of inferiority and insecurity in people.  Additionally, spending hours up hours a day in front of a screen reading about how other people's lives are better than yours certainly isn't good for your mental health.

It's time that we take a closer look at the reasons behind the ever increasing mass shootings in our society.  What has changed over the past decade to cause such a sharp increase in killings?  Guns have always been around, but it wasn't until the advent of social media and its proliferation that mass shootings have increased so rapidly.  Is social media the problem?