The Killing of Charlie Kirk: Why Social Media is Dangerous to View Right Now.

According to Vox: If you haven't seen the video of Charlie Kirk being shot on a college campus in Utah, then you've probably been lucky. Many people, upon opening X, Instagram, YouTube, or another platform on Wednesday afternoon, stumbled upon horrific footage.

This did not happen by chance. Horrific images have always been part of the internet, but people used to have to search for them. However, recently social media platforms have decreased their content controls, sometimes citing free speech. This has led to the gruesome video of Kirk's murder going viral immediately after the event, shocking many viewers. According to The New York Times, these videos were viewed over 11 million times in just two hours after the murder. Many users stumbled upon them by accident, as X automatically plays videos when you scroll through your news feed. Yet many people watched these clips, signaling to the algorithm a demand for such content.

This effect is compounded by aggressive statements from various sides about further actions. Left-wing leaders condemn the violence, prompting some (mostly lesser-known) users to joke. Some far-right individuals call for civil war, while other conservatives mourn a colleague or friend.

What to Do Next?

In such a situation, what to do? I would advise one simple thing: turn off your devices.

The internet resembles a reverberation from a few years ago, but the current state of social media is more like pressure chambers that heat up with each new post until the situation reaches a critical point.

The right has X, formerly Twitter, where, thanks to owner Elon Musk, crowd-funded fact-checking has given way to uncontrolled misinformation. The left has Bluesky, which sometimes looks extremely serious, almost hostile towards outside users. Many millions of people also gather on Meta platforms such as Threads, Instagram, and Facebook. The political orientation there is less obvious, but experts warn that the recent reduction in content control poses a threat to users and democracy. Let’s not forget about numerous alternative social networks, from President Donald Trump's Truth Social to The Donald, which previously hosted on Reddit, where some plans for January 6 were developed.

Dangers of Misinformation

None of these platforms are reliable sources for obtaining facts or information. In the absence of active content control, not only graphic videos spread rapidly but also conspiracy theories, hate speech, and calls for violence. Negative news is usually shared more than positive articles, and those with extreme views receive misinformation sooner than others and are more likely to believe it. Expect a plethora of misleading news in the days following Kirk's murder, especially as authorities try to understand what happened and who is responsible.

These are all reasons not to spend the next few news cycles scrolling through feeds or watching videos on your phone. It’s not just about websites being filled with angry people — it’s an ordinary day on the internet. But in the coming days and weeks, due to the pressure chamber effect, the political climate online will be particularly toxic. The brutal video from Utah may resurface, and unfortunately, there is always a possibility of further violence, especially when far-right extremists are calling for it.

We also do not know how exactly the owners of these platforms will respond to this situation. Musk has actively supported far-right voices on X, possibly by tweaking his algorithm, and it is also reported that he has silenced his critics on the platform. In his recent tweets, Musk blamed the left for Kirk's death, calling it a 'murder party.' This occurs before the identity of the shooter or their motive is known. Such rhetoric raises concerns among internet users about the future.

The video of Kirk's murder is not the only thing that has gone viral this week. So I say again: stay offline for the next few days. Avoid social media, where what appears in your feed is often a surprise and, at times, unpleasant.

It is important to be aware that events related to Kirk's murder may have serious consequences for public consciousness and political debates. The impact of media and social networks on shaping people's opinions may become a crucial aspect of investigating this tragedy and the subsequent actions of activists and politicians. The continuation of this story will need careful attention from both the public and the media.