Half Of Teenagers Recall Having Witnessed or Experienced Shocking Levels of Violence

According to a study conducted by the Youth Endowment Fund, an independent charitable trust, roughly half of adolescents in England and Wales have reportedly witnessed violence or become victims of violence. The most extensive survey in Great Britain of youngsters about the issue of knife crime, bullying, and gang rivalries uncovered startling and deplorable levels of violence, with 16% of teenagers being physically injured in the past 12 months. The research revealed that 47% of teens have been a victim of and witness to violence, skipping school on account of feeling unsafe. 

Violence Hurts Learning Outcomes, Contributing to Reduced Academic Progress  

Exposure to violence undermines youngsters’ education, so it should be the first order of priority, as any type of violence is associated with negative outcomes. Peers might bully other students, or teachers might exert physically violent physical discipline on those who struggle. Over the last few years, knife crime has been on the rise beyond a shadow of a doubt. Violent attacks occur across Great Britain, so there’s an overall atmosphere of fear and uncertainty surrounding the safety of the young. We know that violence isn’t infrequent, but very few studies have analysed its academic impact. 

Young people should have a chance for successful learning unhindered by disruptive behaviour. Physical violence perpetrated at school can lead to psychological distress, permanent disability, and mental ill-health, such as depression, anxiety, eating disorders, and addictive behaviours. Adolescents are severely absent, meaning they miss school at least half the time. Most truants acknowledge the importance of doing well at school, but they fear for their safety. Violence at and around schools is the primary driver of absence, and there’s no single answer to solving the problem. The Youth Endowment Fund is committed to producing evidence on what might work. 

Do Social Media Platforms Cause Violent Behaviours in Teens? 

Children between the ages of 13 and 17 witness real-life violence on social networking platforms, which can generate a desensitising effect and the potential for aggression. Violence comes in the form of footage showing fights between young people, verbally threatening someone, or people carrying/promoting/using weapons. Teenagers are more likely to see violence on TikTok than on any other social media platform (Snapchat, YouTube, Instagram, etc.). Not only does social media expose youngsters to violence, but it’s also one of the factors generating it, with taunts now going live before large audiences. 

Young people judge themselves against others, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that competition is healthy. There’s a sort of competition on social media to see who’s done the worst stuff – adolescents are so deeply traumatised and desensitised to violence that they don’t understand how uncomfortable it can make others. For some, seeing a clip online might not have such a great impact, but for others, it can have an adverse effect. The bad news is that violence in social media is becoming more accessible each day, so it’s difficult, if not impossible, to control what one sees. 

Adults Must Admit That, By Any Measure, The Current Levels of Violence Are Unacceptably High 

The levels of violence teens are exposed to are unacceptably high, and politicians or not, must understand and address the risk and protective factors at the individual, relational, community, and societal levels. Youngsters may internalise more problems with time, which can have various social, psychological, mental, and emotional consequences and lead to various problems within their lives. More than half of the adolescents surveyed affirmed they’ve changed their behaviour as a result of direct contact with aggressive situations. The situation is highly unfair, especially when you consider the numbers. 

Since violence increases health care costs, negatively impacts school attendance, and decreases access to community support, it’s paramount to address the short- and long-term consequences of violent streaks. Adolescents are more likely than any other age group to become victims of violent crime, such as a stabbing incident. A minor doesn’t have the legal capacity to file a lawsuit, so it’s necessary to have a representative to claim compensation. For more information, please visit: https://www.compensationcalculatoruk.co.uk/criminal-injuries-compensation-calculator/. Should the criminal matter result in a conviction, the victim has the right to recover financial compensation for their losses. 

Perpetrators Of Violence Don’t Receive Sufficient Mentoring or Therapy to Amend Their Behaviour 

Aggressiveness is out of the ordinary in young children, but it’s not terribly unusual in teens. They behave violently due to a history of abuse, neglect, or trauma, being exposed to/witnessing violence, mental health issues, or antisocial beliefs. The Youth Endowment Fund fears that not many perpetrators of violent acts receive mentoring or therapy to reduce aggressive behaviour and other indicators of violence. Mentoring is among the practices that offer the most promising results in terms of reducing youth violence, yet mentors must be prepared to respond to disclosures of violence in affirming ways without stepping outside their roles. 

A person’s behaviour can improve or worsen, so we should be giving therapy to violent offenders. Cognitive-behavioural therapy can reduce psychological harm among adolescents who are at risk of violent acts against themselves or others; it can be administered individually or in a group, accompanied by therapy sessions for or with the family. There’s no single factor that causes violence among youngsters, so prevention strategies focus on creating positive relationships and environments. Violence is always unacceptable, and to prevent violence, it’s necessary to address the factors that put people at risk. 

Final Remarks 

All in all, violence affects a significant proportion of the young population, engendering considerable consequences such as injuries, mental health and behavioural consequences, and incidence and prevalence, to name a few. Nevertheless, it’s predictable and, therefore, preventable. The Home Office has invested more than £170 million into the expansion of violence reduction in the places worst affected by absolute brutality. £200 million will be invested in the Youth Endowment Fund over the following years to uncover how to best prevent youth violence and put the knowledge into practice; the charity will collaborate with people in the community and local authorities, educators, the police, and health providers.