I’m sure we’ve all faced a familiar scene — you open your phone, scroll through countless reels, only to find variations of the same political commentary, breaking news and satire. What once would’ve shocked the public now passes in hours. As political stakes rise, Americans appear increasingly desensitized to extreme political revelations, controversial policies and even acts of political violence. While this reaction is understandable in an age of constant exposure, it carries consequences worth examining.

Desensitization is essentially when we exhibit less of an extreme cognitive and emotional reaction to stimuli due to repeated exposure. In a political context, the constant cycles of extreme rhetoric, scandals and crises can lead many to become insensitive towards events that would otherwise demand sustained attention. In a research article done by Politico, it was found that Google search trends surrounding incidents of political violence spike immediately after an incident, but dissipate rapidly after the fact. For example, following the 2012 shooting of US Representative Gabby Giffords, searches dropped by half a year later. More recent events point towards a sharper dissipation in interest. With the Trump shooting in 2025, Google searches decreased to a hundredth of what they were in the first few months after the shooting.

Desensitization to extreme events has impacted America largely; this pattern is particularly visible among young people. For this generation, 50 percent report receiving news primarily from social media platforms, and political memes and satiric commentary have become all the more prevalent. Many young people use humor as a coping mechanism; however, it may also contribute to apathy. Political memes can result in an unintended disconnect from reality when it comes to extreme political violence. By making horrifying content humorous, it becomes easier to diminish its value and importance in society.

Some say desensitization isn’t purely harmful. While it increases our tolerance for insurgency, in some cases, it allows us to view issues with clarity.

As Jared Palma Alvarez, a freshman at Tualatin High School, puts it,“Yes, it [desensitization] can be harmful because it doesn’t let us see apparent dangers that seem small in the moment but can snowball later in the future. However, it increases the way we see big problems. If something is big enough to capture our attention, that’s how we know it’s bad.”

There are ways to be mindful about desensitization and how you or others around you may experience it. In a world where desensitization is impossible to avoid, we must carefully assess our bias and be mindful of the gravity we put on political events.

“The best way to do it is read up in your books and literature,” Palma Alvarez added. “If you’re going to call out one side, instead of just having one pre-assumed position, read up on what they actually say or mean, in reality. Don’t just go out there in public and yell at someone because of something that you have no idea about. Just be smart.”

Desensitization is relevant to everyone in this country, especially younger generations. Educate yourself, strive to have empathy, and take in political content on social media with nuance. It’s then that we, as a generation and as a country, can move forward.