It has been over a year since the death of George Floyd. His death sparked global activism as a video footage of him gasping for his last breath was circulated across international media and online reaching millions in the process. According to Pews Research Centre the Black Lives Matter hashtag which is often used in association with Black deaths in police custody was shared 47.8 million times on Twitter. 

The portrayal of racism, racial bias, and black people’s ongoing suffering in the media have been coined ‘Black Trauma Porn’. The footages of the abusive events create notoriety, and a buzz for social media attention. The commercialisation of these scenes usually for profit comes at the expense of the constant burden it causes to Black viewers who must relive these experiences repeatedly. 

This process of commodification has been criticised for resulting in desensitisation: the narratives intend to be “anti-racist”, sharing stories with the intent of educating people about injustice caused to black people. For a long time, the issues have been silenced; over time as activism sought to reconcile due justice to issues relevant to the Black community this has bred countless films and stories amplifying the terrible experiences of Black people.

Because of its psychological impact, the reduction of trauma porn has also been called for: a replay of discrimination and racism on screens like other forms of trauma trigger mental stressors. However, many people continue to see nothing wrong with it; several have accepted the commercialising of Black pain. Some have even added how it benefits politicians such as Biden whose win was arguably due to voters feeling fearful and needing to draw a form of partisanship in solidarity with the on ongoing brutality against Black lives in America.

The benefits of Slacktivism, activism through the use of social media is often reduced to having minimal effect and being a mere act of performativity. When connected to trauma porn many question its meaningful lasting impact. Black pain and oppression go beyond the content produced on it triggering many viewers.