Social Media, Newsworthiness, and Missing White Woman Syndrome: A Criminological Analysis

Avril Margaret Brandon (), Erika Emandache and Aleksandra Iwaniec
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Avril Margaret Brandon: School of Law and Criminology, Maynooth University, W23 WK26 Maynooth, Ireland
Erika Emandache: School of Law and Criminology, Maynooth University, W23 WK26 Maynooth, Ireland
Aleksandra Iwaniec: School of Law and Criminology, Maynooth University, W23 WK26 Maynooth, Ireland

Social Sciences, 2024, vol. 13, issue 1, 1-10

Abstract: Missing White Woman Syndrome has been widely acknowledged within traditional mainstream media, resulting in a heavy focus on missing white women and a simultaneous underrepresentation of missing women from minority ethnic communities. However, less is known about whether this has carried through to social media, wherein users play a key role in determining what becomes widespread news. This review seeks to examine this issue with reference to existing research. It begins by exploring the concept of newsworthiness and the ways in which social media influences the distribution of news. It will then review the concept of the ‘ideal victim’, and its continued association with ethnicity. Finally, the review will examine Missing White Woman Syndrome and the ways in which it has historically manifested within traditional media and continues to manifest on social media. The review will conclude with a discussion on findings and avenues for future research in Ireland and internationally.

Keywords: missing white woman syndrome; racialised minorities; white female victim effect; victimology; racism; feminism; social media (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: A B N P Y80 Z00 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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