Videos of Charlie Kirk's Murder Remain on Social Media Platforms by Design

Videos of Charlie Kirk's Murder Still on Social Media — and That's No Accident Charlie Kirk, a right-wing provocateur, was shot and killed during an event at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, on September 10, 2025. Graphic videos of the assassination went viral on every major social media platform, with some remaining online for weeks. The incident has sparked concern about the spread of violent content on social media. According to a search on Instagram, for every three videos of Kirk debating college students, there is at least one graphic video of him bleeding out after being shot. Searching "Charlie Kirk shooting" yields an overwhelming number of disturbing images and videos. In contrast to previous mass shootings, where platforms like Meta have swiftly removed violent content, the videos of Kirk's murder remain online. After a gunman livestreamed his attack on a mosque in Christchurch, New Zealand, in 2019, Meta took down over 1.2 million versions of the video before users could upload them to the platform. The Southern Poverty Law Center has tracked uploads of videos after mass shootings and found a dramatic decrease in violent content being shared online. However, the case of Charlie Kirk's murder raises questions about why similar measures were not taken this time around. As the community grapples with the aftermath of Kirk's death, concerns are growing about the impact of graphic violence on social media users. Mental health professionals and experts are urging platforms to take a more proactive approach in removing violent content. The incident has also sparked debate about the role of social media in perpetuating hate speech and violence. Critics argue that platforms have failed to adequately address these issues, allowing extremist ideologies to spread unchecked. As investigations into Kirk's murder continue, it remains to be seen how social media companies will respond to the growing pressure to remove violent content from their platforms. *This story is developing. Information compiled from Theintercept reporting.*