True Crime with Compassion: The Power of Trauma-Informed Storytelling in the Digital Age

What does it mean to be "trauma-informed"?

We hear the phrase "trauma-informed" tossed around a lot in conversations about crime victims, advocacy, and justice. The phrase has become a staple in discussions about how to best support victims and their families. But what does it really mean to be trauma-informed? And perhaps more importantly, how does this concept apply to the vast, often unfiltered world of true crime social media content?

At its heart, being trauma-informed means deeply understanding how trauma shapes a person’s experience and response. Trauma isn’t a one-size-fits-all phenomenon. It doesn’t adhere to predictable scripts or universal reactions. What devastates one person may barely faze another. Some people express trauma through visible distress, while others might mask it behind a composed exterior. Some people may become quiet and withdrawn, while others may appear aggressive at times. There’s no singular or uniform "right way" to react to pain, grief, or fear.

Yet, time and again, we see this nuance overlooked in the world of true crime content. A quick dive into the chat or comment sections in many true crime social media content about a missing child case that has little to no factual information can often tell the story, for instance:

• "That’s not how I’d act if MY kid went missing."

• "No parent who lost a child would ever behave like THAT."

• "She smiled in that interview? That’s suspicious. If my child were missing, I’d never smile!"

In my line of work and at the Foundation Against Crime Victim Exploitation in Social Media, we see these reactions all the time. And we get it—when confronted with tragedy, we instinctively measure it against our own expectations. We try to make sense of the incomprehensible by imagining how we would respond. But here’s the hard truth: Our personal assumptions about trauma are often wrong. Just because someone reacts differently than we would doesn’t mean their response is unnatural, suspicious, or indicative of guilt.

Being trauma-informed means challenging our own biases and acknowledging that human emotions are complex and deeply personal. It means stepping outside of our assumptions and truly listening to what a victim is going through. If we want to support crime victims and their families, we need to meet them where they are, not where we think they should be.

But being trauma-informed isn’t just an abstract ideal—it’s something that can be put into action, especially in the true crime content space. Both true crime content creators and consumers can easily develop trauma-informed practices.

For content creators, reflecting on the impact of one's prior work can result in developing more trauma-informed practices. One can ask questions like:

• Does my content respect the victim’s own experience, recognizing their trauma, or does it exploit it for entertainment?

• Am I considering how my words, imagery, and tone might affect those directly impacted by the crime?

• Have I taken the time to verify information with the victim’s family to ensure accuracy and minimize harm and potential revictimization?

• Is there a way to improve my content in the future to be more sensitive and empathetic to what the victims are going through?

• How did my content help the victim, or did the content lead to harm or retraumatizing the victim?

  
  

For content creators who interview victims, there are more questions about one's interview methods and follow up that can be useful. These questions include:

• Were my questions framed in a way that acknowledged the victim’s trauma with sensitivity?

• How did the victim react to my questions and did they show any apparent signs of distress that I could try to minimize in the future?

• Did I create an environment of trust and respect, ensuring the victim felt safe, supported and heard, or did I approach the victim with judgment, criticism and accusations?

• Did I make assumptions about how the victim felt or did I meet the victim where they were, based upon actual, known facts released by law enforcement officials?

• Would the interview process be better for the victim if I had provided an advocate to be present?

• Did I offer resources or follow up to provide ongoing support?

  
  

Even true crime fans scrolling through content can play a role in creating a more trauma-informed space. Before commenting, consider:

• Am I making assumptions based upon my own ideas of how trauma "should" look?

• Is my comment helpful and supportive, or could it be hurtful to someone directly affected?

• Am I contributing to a culture of empathy, or am I adding to the noise of judgment?

• Am I actually helping or am I hurting the victim by offering my comments?

  
  

Being trauma-informed isn’t about perfection; it’s about progress. It’s about making a conscious effort to approach crime stories—not as detached spectators, but as thoughtful, compassionate human beings. True crime, at its best, isn’t just about mystery and intrigue—it’s about people. People who have suffered unimaginable losses, who are searching for justice, and who deserve to be seen, heard, and respected.

At the end of the day, being trauma-informed isn’t just about understanding trauma—it’s about transforming the way we engage with it. When we lead with empathy, we don’t just change conversations. We change lives.