Minutes after right-wing activist Charlie Kirk was shot at a Utah Valley University rally on Wednesday, videos of the incident surfaced on X.
Within two hours, as Kirk’s death was confirmed, these videos, shared by rally attendees, had amassed over 11 million views on the platform. The high-definition footage, vividly displaying Kirk’s neck wound, quickly spread to Instagram, Threads, YouTube, and Telegram, gaining millions more views and being modified with graphics and older clips of Kirk.
This incident highlights a disturbing trend. Graphic shooting content, like that from the 2018 Pittsburgh synagogue attack or the 2019 New Zealand mosque shootings, rapidly circulates online, exposing the inadequate measures against violent content and solidifying such footage as a common online feature.
Stay informed. Follow KT on WhatsApp Channels.
Meta, which owns Instagram and Threads, and Google, which owns YouTube, claim to restrict violent content on their platforms. X, owned by Elon Musk, prohibits “excessively gory” media and suggests using warning labels for violent content.
However, users often bypass these restrictions by altering videos, making them harder to detect and remove. Recently, platforms like X have reduced content moderation and relaxed hate speech policies, promoting free speech over censorship.
Social media experts anticipated the widespread distribution of Kirk’s shooting footage.
“This is unprecedented—such a public assassination of a well-known figure spreading on social media,” stated Emerson Brooking, Director of Strategy at the Digital Forensic Research Lab. “This viral moment will significantly impact American politics and society.”
Meta had no comment on the video distribution. X and Telegram did not respond to comment requests. X stated it “will stand against violence and censorship, promoting truth and dialogue.”
YouTube removed some graphic content and applied age restrictions to prevent under-18 users from viewing it, a Google spokesperson noted.
“Our thoughts are with Charlie Kirk’s family in this tragic time,” the spokesperson added. “We’re actively monitoring our platform and highlighting news content to keep users informed.”
Social media platforms have struggled for a decade to control the spread of violent content. In 2015, ISIS shared beheading and shooting videos from Iraq and Syria, which went viral, aiding their propaganda and recruitment. While platforms removed some content, it often took days or weeks.
Violent content isn’t limited to videos. In 2018, the Pittsburgh synagogue shooter shared antisemitic views on Gab, a right-wing platform, which then spread to other sites along with antisemitic imagery and hashtags.
In 2019, footage of the Christchurch mosque shootings circulated widely online. Despite social media companies’ promises to remove it, copies were still shared years later.
Following Kirk’s shooting, platforms tried removing videos with mixed results.
On Instagram and Threads, some videos had sensitive content warnings, but not all. Meta flagged some videos as sensitive and restricted them to over-18 users. YouTube removed certain videos, yet new uploads continued, as reported by a New York Times search.
On X, news aggregation accounts quickly picked up the footage. One account, Uncensored News, garnered over 8 million views; the video was later removed, though it’s unclear whether by user or platform.
Another account, Breaking911, shared the video, receiving 3 million views within an hour.
Musk appeared to have watched some footage. He posted, “The shot looked real bad, but I sure hope Charlie makes it somehow.”
Soon, hundreds urged Musk to remove the footage, citing concern for Kirk’s family, especially his young children potentially watching their father’s death.
This article originally appeared in The New York Times.
