Camera perspective and skin color: Biased reactions to viral body worn camera videos of police violence

Abstract

Body-worn camera and citizen device videos capturing police use-of-force are shared and commented upon widely within social media. This study investigated how point-of-view (POV: onlooker vs. officer perspective) and citizen skin color (dark skin vs. light skin), interacted to affect emotional responses, likelihood to comment and share, and comment on content. A predominantly White sample watched police use-of-force videos in which citizen skin color and camera POV varied. Body-worn camera (BWC) videos in which light-skinned citizens were harmed elicited the most likelihood to comment and share. Further, experienced negative emotion fully mediated this relationship. BWC videos in which dark-skinned citizens were harmed elicited the least negative emotion, the least likelihood to comment, and less normative commentary about officer behaviors.