Social media has undergone a significant transformation, shifting from a social platform to a medium where violent and disturbing content is frequently shared.
A recent incident involving Charlie Kirk, a conservative activist and founder of Turning Point USA, highlights this issue. On February 10, 2025, Kirk was fatally shot in the neck during a public event at Utah Valley University (UVU) in Orem, Utah. The incident was captured on cellphone videos, which quickly went viral, showing the moment of the shooting and its aftermath.
Meanwhile, in Nepal, a revolution was unfolding, with tens of thousands of protesters gathering in the streets of Kathmandu to protest government corruption. Footage of protesters lying dead in the streets, as a result of a military crackdown, also surfaced on social media, showcasing the intensity of the turmoil.
The assassination and the revolution in Nepal demonstrate how social media has desensitized us to death and violence.
Author's summary: Social media desensitizes us to violence and death.