Brutal attack on Satansbratan father: Who are the attackers?

Brutal attack on Satansbratan father: Who are the attackers?

In Favoriten, a 70-year-old man was the victim of a brutal attack that is now causing alarm in the local community. Erik, known as “Satansbratan” and with over 800,000 followers on TikTok and Instagram, reached out to his followers on Monday with a call for help. His father, who was attacked on Saturday December 20, suffered serious injuries including a broken face, broken shoulder and lost teeth. To make matters worse, he was without a phone during the attack and was therefore unable to call anyone for help. The attack took place between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Bergtaidingweg when he tried to walk past three young people, whom he addressed with the words "Well, it's fine anyway."

The brutal behavior of the young people not only affected people, but also reopened the discussion about violence and social media. The father was immediately taken to hospital and continues to receive medical treatment. “Satansbratan” has asked for tips on its social networks and has even announced a finder’s fee for relevant information. There is great outrage in the community and many are wondering how such an incident could happen.

The role of violence in society

Violence against older people is a serious problem in many societies. A new study of online misogyny has shown that such attacks often have a broader social context. Young men in particular are attracted to misogynistic narratives and influencers who promote toxic masculinity. Programs such as “pickup artists” and masculinity coaches deliberately manipulate what can have a negative impact on the behavior of young men. These movements, viewed as part of the "mannosphere," blurred the line between harmless interactions and dangerous, aggressive behavior toward women and other vulnerable groups.

In this context, it is important to mention that digital violence is often a precursor to analog violence. A study has shown that young women who are victims of digital violence on social media have often also experienced analogue violence from the same perpetrators. These include cyberbullying and hate speech, which pervade the online world and can spill over into the real world. More and more initiatives are working to raise public awareness and make legal changes to counteract these phenomena.

The need for interventions

The recent events in Favoriten illustrate the urgent need to take the issue of violence in the social environment seriously. Digital violence has many facets and its effects are diverse. Targeted education in schools about feminist issues, sexual violence and dating is necessary in order to sensitize the younger generation to these problems and to provide them with equipment with which they can recognize and question problematic narratives at an early stage. The legal situation should also be further developed in order to better protect women and other affected groups.

In times when social media has an enormous influence on everyday life, it is not just a matter of calling for “Satansbratan”, but requires a collective awareness and a broad discussion platform about the dangers associated with the spread of misogynistic and violent content. Only through collective action can we promote safe and respectful coexistence in which such attacks become a thing of the past.