The War That Won’t Stay on the Battlefield
"The war is being perpetuated online," Landschaft explains. It is no longer just a conflict fought with guns and rockets—it is a war of images and videos, a war of emotions, hate, and psychological manipulation. Graphic content is shared endlessly across platforms like Telegram, WhatsApp, X (formerly Twitter), and Facebook, bypassing traditional media filters.
The Hamas attack on Israeli civilians was deliberately recorded and broadcast to maximize the psychological impact, not only on victims' families but on the entire global audience. Some videos were even sent directly to family members of those who were murdered or kidnapped. These horrors, once uploaded, are impossible to erase. Many clips now carry chilling warnings: "Danger: cannot unsee."
Landschaft refuses to describe what he has seen, not wanting to further spread the images. But he knows that his children, like many others, are just one accidental swipe away from being exposed to traumatic content.
Can You Really Control What Kids See Online?
Like many parents, Landschaft faces an impossible dilemma. His children, like most their age, spend hours each day on their phones. The internet, which once served as an exciting digital playground, has now become a minefield of disturbing images and propaganda.
He acknowledges a hard truth: "I can’t ultimately control what they see on the internet."
Theoretically, he could ban social media apps or take away their devices—but he refuses to do so. In Israel, some parents’ associations have urged families to delete TikTok due to its role in spreading war footage. However, Landschaft knows that kids today are tech-savvy and can easily bypass restrictions. Instead, he relies on open conversations to teach his children how to navigate the flood of disturbing content.
He encourages them to:
- Think critically before believing or sharing news.
- Differentiate between credible sources and propaganda.
- Understand that shocking content is often used as a weapon.
But he admits that even for an adult, this is not easy.
The War Is Changing Social Media – and Its Users
Landschaft has been active on LinkedIn since 2003, using it as a platform for professional networking and industry discussions. But since the war began, even LinkedIn has transformed.
"Suddenly, even business discussions are dominated by politics," he says. The platform, once a space for exchanging ideas and knowledge, is now filled with heated arguments about the war. The pressure to take a side is immense, and the willingness to listen has vanished.
"The focus is no longer on listening to each other, exchanging views, and finding similarities," Landschaft says. "It’s about being right."
The Unfinished Battle
Despite his efforts, Landschaft knows that he cannot fully protect his children from the brutal images of war. But he refuses to give up. He believes that dialogue, education, and digital literacy are the only true defenses in this age of unfiltered, weaponized information.
For him, the goal is not just to shield his children—it is to prepare them. Because in today’s world, the battlefield is not just in the Middle East. It is on every screen, in every home, and in every pocket.
https://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/jewish-life-in-germany-a-sudden-ominous-sense-of-insecurity-a-e21696e4-35f8-4c32-9300-f875885ef638