Parents urged to prepare children for possible livestream of Nidal Hasan firing squad execution Experts advise parents to prepare children for the possible livestream of Nidal Hasan's Dec. 3 firing squad execution at Fort Hood, warning graphic footage could reach kids through social media even if the original broadcast is restricted. Experts are urging parents to prepare their children for the near-certain prospect that kids will hear about or see footage of the Dec. 3 execution by firing squad of Nidal Malik Hasan if the Trump administration follows through with plans to livestream the event. A U.S. political analyst, Eric Ham, reacted to the Pentagon's announcement that it will livestream the execution of the Fort Hood shooter. The danger stretches beyond the broadcast itself. History shows graphic video from such an event could be clipped, copied and pushed into children's social feeds even if the original stream is restricted. This is not an article about politics, capital punishment or whether the Fort Hood shooter deserves to be executed in public for his crimes.It is focused on the unprecedented parental challenge of handling what children may encounter. Experts suggest that grownups who care about children start by setting aside matters of politics and public policy, like the Nov. 3 U.S. midterm elections and the debate over capital punishment. Focus instead on how witnessing someone's death by firing squad might land with young viewers and how best to reassure and protect them. Keep empathy for kids in mind and facts at hand.Mis- and disinformation reach children, too. It is important for parents to have credibility with them, especially because their real, unspoken question might be: Are we safe? Have basic facts about the case in hand and state them gently.According to Common Sense Media, which advises parents on entertainment and technology, it will be easier to have a position, share your family's values, and discuss things with a potentially overwhelmed child once you have taken the time to gather accurate, up-to-date info and assess your child's needs. Trump approved Hasan's execution by firing squad for Dec. 3 at Fort Hood. A few days later, the Pentagon announced the event would be livestreamed.Details of Execution and Historical ContextDefense Secretary Pete Hegseth told Real America's Voice, a conservative outlet, that people need to understand there are serious consequences for these types of things. Hasan, an Army psychiatrist, was convicted of killing 13 people at Fort Hood in 2009. He walked into a medical building where soldiers were getting checkups and opened fire with a laser-sighted handgun. He said it was an effort to stop them from going to Afghanistan and killing his fellow Muslims.He made almost no effort to defend himself at trial. The U.S. military has not carried out the death penalty since 1961. The last widely recognized public execution took place on Aug. 14, 1936. Kentucky, the last state to permit them, outlawed the practice in 1938.Parents should stay updated on the plans and on how a livestreamed execution would unfold. Many questions remain unanswered, such as whether the moment of death and its aftermath will be shown, whether any age restrictions will apply, and whether there will be a broadcast delay or a threshold for stopping the feed. Be informed about the technology involved.While the government often uses YouTube to carry its livestreams, including those embedded within government websites, YouTube prohibits content that is violent or gory and intended to shock or disgust viewers. It also does not allow livestreams that show someone holding, handling or transporting a firearm. YouTube does make exceptions in select cases for content it deems to be in an educational, documentary, scientific or artistic context, or that it determines to be in the public's interest.YouTube Policies and Social Media RisksIn such cases, the content may be age-restricted. The company did not immediately respond to a request for comment regarding how its policies relate to the execution. The danger to kids spills beyond the live broadcast to unexpected exposure on social media in the form of memes, for example. It is unclear whether the Trump administration is considering children in its decision-making.Emails over two days asking White House spokespeople for thoughts from the president and first lady Melania Trump on the prospect of children seeing the execution went unanswered. Trump said he will soon make a decision on the plan to livestream the event. Assume kids will at least hear about the execution, if not see it. From the old-fashioned grapevine to social media, grisly news has a way of reaching school-aged children, experts agree.Consider their need for calm and age-appropriate guidance, they suggest. Jill Murphy, chief content officer at Common Sense Media, said that with young kids, parents should keep it short and focus on reassurance over explaining the events. She said parents should reassure them that they are safe. With teens, ask honestly what they have heard first, then ask whether they need to watch it.Expert Advice for Parental GuidanceRemember you are your child's parent, not their friend, and do not overexplain, advises Dr. David Rosenberg, chair of psychiatry and behavioral neurosciences at Wayne State University School of Medicine in Michigan. Answer the questions children ask, and do not be afraid to assert parental authority by, for example, restricting or banning a child's access to the footage.Rosenberg said it is okay to say, I do not have all the answers, but here is what we know, you are safe, you are secure, this is what we believe. He added that where parents get into trouble is when they talk too much, and they usually do that because they are anxious and insecure.What makes a child feel safest, or an adolescent, is whether they can count on their parents to be calm in challenging situations and give them the information they need. Choosing to watch the footage, one physician said, does not necessarily indicate a child is psychologically ready to do so.Timothy Lesaca, a Pittsburgh-area psychiatrist, cited a series of studies showing that repeatedly watching footage of events like the Boston Marathon bombings, at least part of an ISIS beheading video and the Oklahoma City bombing can be linked to post-traumatic stress, if not PTSD, in adults and children.