Stats Say Crime Is Down In Buffalo, But It Doesn’t Feel Like It

If you take a walk down the street or stroll through just about any social media feed, you may get the feeling that we're in the middle of some 1980's dystopian crime movie like Escape From New York or something.

However, the facts on the ground do not support the feeling that people have about crime in Buffalo and beyond.

According to just about every measurable data point from the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services and the FBI, crime is down, and not by a little bit.

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The facts, data, and statistics all say that shootings, robberies, homicides, burglaries, and even car thefts are all down by double-digit percentages, but why doesn't it feel that way?

Well, the answer is complicated, but pretty simple at the same time: we're more connected to each other than ever before.

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Thanks to things like social media and viral videos that spread from sea to shining sea at the speed of light, we are often able to see crime happening in real time, and that helps to drive the perception that things are getting worse, even though this is statistically the safest time for humans in recorded history.

One thing that we have to remember is that social media algorithms seek to keep us on their platforms as long as possible, and it's proven that fear and outrage can drive you to consume more of it. Just like how people are prone to rubbernecking at a car crash, being constantly fed stories about car thefts and shootings will keep our attention.

No matter what the statistics say, people tend to lean on their feelings and emotions over facts. As troubling as it is, that's the human way.

Just remember, even though some people are looking to profit off of your fear and anger, don't lose sight of the fact that things are a lot better than it may seem.