There is a series on Netflix which is initially based on social media sleuthing – Clickbait. I think the social media interest can be a good or a bad thing, but mostly bad.
What is the baddest of the bad is the odious Joy Reid wading in and calling this ‘Missing White Girl Syndrome’ from her position as news host on MSNBC. Who knows why some cases capture the imagination of the public more than others – it certainly happens the world over – but racialising it and ignoring the pain being felt by the murder victims family says volumes about Joy as a human being. There are plenty of girls murdered, both white and black that don’t engender this sort of interest.
Last edited 2 years ago by Lesley van Reenen
Bruce Metzger
2 years ago
Interesting to date, only one comment than my own; yet about a syndrome here lacking interest for comments. I suppose the Tik Tok crowd doesn’t read. However, I have been curious as to why all the interest in the Gabby missing event over other missing people. The article gave insight into my query.
Kathryn Allegro
2 years ago
The TV channels in the USA are giving this case a lot of attention, too. CNN is showing the same stories (or non-stories) again and again. Families of other missing people are rightly asking why so much attention to this person and no attention to their own loved ones. I think the author is correct to point out that Petito’s being an extremely photogenic victim is a major factor. In the UK the coverage of the murder of Sarah Everard was in many ways similar. Being young, white and very pretty does count.
There is a series on Netflix which is initially based on social media sleuthing – Clickbait. I think the social media interest can be a good or a bad thing, but mostly bad.
What is the baddest of the bad is the odious Joy Reid wading in and calling this ‘Missing White Girl Syndrome’ from her position as news host on MSNBC. Who knows why some cases capture the imagination of the public more than others – it certainly happens the world over – but racialising it and ignoring the pain being felt by the murder victims family says volumes about Joy as a human being. There are plenty of girls murdered, both white and black that don’t engender this sort of interest.
Interesting to date, only one comment than my own; yet about a syndrome here lacking interest for comments. I suppose the Tik Tok crowd doesn’t read. However, I have been curious as to why all the interest in the Gabby missing event over other missing people. The article gave insight into my query.
The TV channels in the USA are giving this case a lot of attention, too. CNN is showing the same stories (or non-stories) again and again. Families of other missing people are rightly asking why so much attention to this person and no attention to their own loved ones. I think the author is correct to point out that Petito’s being an extremely photogenic victim is a major factor. In the UK the coverage of the murder of Sarah Everard was in many ways similar. Being young, white and very pretty does count.