Photo Via Fox 35 Orlando

I think it happened after 9/11.

That day our world and our ability to desensitize ourselves to horrible tragedies forever changed.

On an endless loop, we saw on our televisions horrible images of the planes hitting the buildings and people falling to their deaths to escape the burning buildings.

Something changed that day in our world when it came to how we share information regarding terrible news and heartbreak.

It became part of a 24 hours news cycle.

It became part of a constant need to share details of horrible tragedies without regard to those lost or their families.

Our need to “feed the beast,” to be the first to have the video, see the video, and share the footage reigned supreme.

This is why when fights break out, our children film it first before going for help.

What have we done to our children?

In Orlando yesterday, a 14-year-old boy lost his life on the Free Fall Ride at Icon Park.

Tragically, he fell to his death when the harness malfunctioned, or he was never appropriately strapped.

It could have been human error. It could have been a ride malfunction.

We do not know, but the video of this boy’s death has been shared all over the internet today.

I have seen the video repeatedly pop up on my newsfeed with the sensitive content warning label.

People continue to share it without regard to that boy’s family or the victim himself.

The person that shared the video first should be ashamed.

That video should only be shared and seen by the proper authorities and accident investigators.

It should not be shared all over social media as entertainment or voyeurism.

Did you know that law enforcement officers who work investigating crimes against children must take breaks from the images they are forced to see?

This is because we are HUMAN.

We are not meant to see tragic videos and pictures on replay.

It’s not healthy, but it’s also devastating.

Devastating that we have come so far as a society, yet we’ve become more disconnected and desensitized than ever.

We are at a point where the death of a child is played repeatedly and shared on an endless loop.

Then we wonder why our children start recording before finding help when tragedy strikes.

The boy’s name was Tyre Sampson.

He is more than the video of his death shared thousands of times, revictimizing him and his loved ones.

Tyre has a mother and father.

He has friends that love him too. He was on vacation with those friends when tragedy struck.

I can assure you that his friends who were on the ride do not need to see that video. Absolute devastation seared into their minds and hearts forever. They will relive this horror for the rest of their lives.

His parents, I can’t begin to fathom the depths of despair they are feeling.

Not only have they lost their son so tragically, now he’s become nothing more than a viral video of gore to those thirsty to share such heartbreak.

Something happened on 9/11 that forever changed us, and I don’t think we as a society can ever roll it back.

His name was Tyre Sampson.

He was 14 years old, and he played football.

Described as respectful, kind, and a big teddy bear.

He was an honor roll student, and his father said, “He was a kindhearted kid who would give the shirt off his back to anyone who needed it.”

Tyre Sampson is much more than a viral video of his death. He was a child loved dearly by many. Think about this before you hit that share button.

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