When, on September 11, 2011, terrorists hijacked four planes to attack symbols of American power, over 3,000 people died in the attacks. Despite the high death toll, not a single image of any of the victims was published. Many argued that it was intentional; not to give the attackers fodder to feed on to use in their propaganda. But the most underlying reason was far from that: It was to respect the victims and save their families from further anguish. Unfortunately, the same reasoning has not always prevailed when reporting about tragedies on the African continent. Today, everyone has a smart phone and everyone is virtually a photo journalist, snapping pictures here and there and sharing them on social media. Caution has been thrown to the wind; it is akin to the Roman citizens who filled stadiums to see gladiators tear each other apart. It was a popular blood fest. But where do people find the pleasure of sharing gory images such as yesterday’s tragic accident in Kicukiro when a heavy laden truck ploughed into people leaving a bloody carnage behind? How would the publisher feel if the mutilated images belonged to a loved one? In many countries, someone’s death is not reported until the next of kin has been informed. Would those who take pleasure of publishing gory details like it if they got to know of the death of close ones through the internet, displayed in all corners of the world? Similarly, not everyone can stomach disturbing images and when they are splashed all over the internet they can cause lasting psychological damage. But it is also a sign of bad taste. Whether it is a matter of respecting the dead, privacy and avoiding behaviour that is on the fringe of sarcasm, disturbing images should be kept out of the public realm. It is sadistic and inhumane and it is one area social media platforms should address vigorously.
