Videos of Charlie Kirk’s Shooting Spread Rapidly on Social Media Sheera Frenkel and Kate Conger

By Sheera Frenkel and Kate Conger from NYT Technology https://ift.tt/ZDzV0rK
via IFTTT

After conservative activist Charlie Kirk was fatally shot while speaking at a public event at Utah Valley University, graphic videos capturing the shooting spread almost instantly across social media platforms. Users posted footage from multiple angles, some slow-motion or close-up, with many versions appearing without content warnings. Platforms like X, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and others were flooded with these clips, which gained millions of views in a short span of time.

Traditional media outlets generally avoided showing the moment of impact or graphic visuals, choosing instead to show more restrained content. Meanwhile, social media platforms struggled to keep up with content moderation: some graphic videos were removed or age restricted later, but many remained visible through search features or feeds, especially early on. Parents and advocacy groups expressed concern about children accidentally encountering the videos, before warnings or restrictions could take effect.

---

[1]: https://www.wired.com/story/charlie-kirk-shot-videos-spread-social-media?utm_source=chatgpt.com "Charlie Kirk Was Shot and Killed in a Post-Content-Moderation World"

[2]: https://apnews.com/article/6cfd4dfde356b960aeea69c01ea3ec34?utm_source=chatgpt.com "Graphic video of Kirk shooting was everywhere online, showing how media gatekeeper role has changed"

[3]: https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2025/09/12/charlie-kirk-death-video-kids-teens/?utm_source=chatgpt.com "'My kid has seen this. Now what?': Parents reel as Charlie Kirk video goes viral"

[4]: https://www.reuters.com/world/us/kirks-death-prompts-shock-grief-across-gen-z-ideological-lines-2025-09-12/?utm_source=chatgpt.com "Kirk's death prompts shock, grief across Gen Z ideological lines"