In the News: Youth Respond to the Viral Spread of Graphic Content Following Charlie Kirk's Death
September 25, 2025 | ⚠️ CONTENT WARNING: This post discusses gun violence.
Following the shooting of Charlie Kirk, graphic videos and images quickly flooded social media feeds without warning, exposing many young people to disturbing content. As a result, some have been left shaken, fearful, and uncertain about what’s next. Despite platforms’ promises of “safety” measures, many young people were repeatedly exposed to videos of this murder and remain vulnerable to this happening again. We checked in with our #GoodforMEdia Youth Leaders to hear how they’re processing this moment.
What you need to know:
Videos of the shooting of Charlie Kirk have proliferated on social media apps, especially in the immediate aftermath.
Many young people saw the graphic footage directly in their feeds or had it shared by friends.
The video has sparked widespread emotional reactions, leaving many feeling unsettled.
Some platforms eventually added warnings or blurred parts of the video, but only after millions had already viewed it, and not all platforms took action.
The footage continues to circulate worldwide, sometimes under altered hashtags to evade removal.
Our gut reactions:
The video is shockingly gory and graphic, and so many youth will see it in their “For You Feed,” even if not searching for it.
We were disturbed by how quickly it circulated, especially such a graphic video.
It coincided with the anniversary of 9/11 and many other heavy headlines. It was a lot at once and it was hard to make sense of it all.
We felt a level of dread when opening up an app in the aftermath, because of what we feared would be shown.
The weight of managing it (including trying to avoid exposure to it) fell entirely upon us as young users.
Some of us ended up turning away from the screen, intentionally avoiding social media all weekend or needing to step away for awhile in order to stay grounded.
We think it’s headed in the…
Right direction
Wrong direction
Too soon to tell
What to look out for:
How can we balance the right to bear witness to major cultural events with minimizing the exposure to graphic video content that can be very distressing, especially to young people?
How can social media platforms do a better job of stemming the virality of violent and graphic videos, and give young people more agency over choosing what they do and do not want to see online?
References
‘My kid has seen this. Now what?’: Parents reel as Charlie Kirk video goes viral The Washington Post
Additional Tools and Insights 📚
Tips for Taking Care of Your Mental Health in a Digital World: Learn insights and strategies for protecting your wellbeing while staying connected.
Social Media Mental Checklist: Check out this tool, created by #GoodforMEdia Youth Leader Sonia, to support her peers in practicing mindful engagement with social media.
What Can I Do Instead of “Doom-Scrolling”?: Explore tips from #GoodforMEdia Youth Leader, Katy, to improve your scrolling habits and make a conscious shift to center your mental wellbeing.
#GoodforMEdia Guides and Tools: Explore a list of resources created by youth to help their peers and adult allies navigate the positive and negative aspects of social media.