It’s no surprise that mainstream media outlets like CNN and the BBC are hyperventilating over the horrific incident involving an 11-year-old boy in Thailand allegedly mowing down a crowd of monks. They churn out their narratives with the subtlety of a sledgehammer, pushing an agenda that frames this child as a monstrous outlier rather than a product of a broken system. What’s often lost amid the shock headlines is the societal context—why is an 11-year-old even behind the wheel? This isn’t just a sensational crime; it’s indicative of deeper issues within Thai society, and yet, the corporate media seems uninterested in probing that real conversation.

Instead, they focus on shock value, painting the boy as some “evil genius” rather than a misguided child likely influenced by adult actions. CNN has a knack for sensational stories, creating a caricature of tragedy instead of informing us about the societal flaws that lead to such events. Meanwhile, the BBC, with its air of faux-inclusivity, covers the story in dry detail, almost as if they’re trying to distance themselves from the emotional chaos while still capitalizing on it.

Let’s not kid ourselves—these outlets thrive on such tragedies. They manufacture outrage and fear, drawing in ratings but offering no genuine insight into the root causes. They want shock, not solutions. If we truly care about preventing tragedies like this, we need to question the narratives being spun, instead of letting ourselves be led like sheep into the outrage du jour.