THERE is a disturbing change in how we respond to violent crimes against women and children in society. Till a few years ago, horrific incidents were met with lasting public anger, peaceful street protests, and calls for justice. Today, our grief seems to last no more than a couple of days on social media. The pattern has become entirely predictable. When a terrible case comes to light, it fills our feeds for about 48 hours. This brief window is full of shock, celebrity condemnation and victim-blaming.

As soon as the next headline appears, the reaction to the ‘previous’ tragedy vanishes. Real-world activism and sustained pressure on institutions have been replaced by temporary social media hashtags.

This short span of attention carries dangerous consequences. When public memory lasts merely for days, if not hours, potential criminals take heart from the fact that public anger would burn out quickly.

By reducing justice to a short-lived digital trend, we tend to lose the strong public pressure needed to force real reform.

Seher Raza
Lahore

Published in Dawn, August 1st, 2026