Is Social Media Violence Desensitizing Society?

By Evie Benson

Account Executive

When you open social media, how long does it take you to read or see a violent, uncensored image or video? Once you see something, you can’t unsee it. 

I’ll admit it: I have gone down the TikTok rabbit hole of watching police bodycam footage of arrests. At times, though, I come across a video that is more than a “funny” traffic stop. Instead, I am watching, along with millions of others, possibly the worst moment of someone's life. 

It is undeniable that violence in the media has increased alongside a decline in censorship. In the past, society placed greater value on privacy, discretion and even empathy. Today, the rapid growth of social media platforms makes it possible for information, including violent content, to spread across the globe within seconds. Censorship systems often struggle to keep up. When a tragic accident or death occurs, images or videos of the victims often trend on social media within minutes, typically posted by anonymous bystanders. 

A Method Communications survey of 2,000 Americans found that 43 percent of consumers believe social media is to blame for declining social empathy. Images and videos of traumatic events are easy to find and share. In the past, platforms and news outlets worked diligently to censor violent content. Now, graphic content can appear on users’ feeds with little to no warning. What does that say about society? 

Photo courtesy of Unsplash

An example occurred in October 2024, when musician and One Direction star Liam Payne tragically died after falling 

off a hotel balcony. Hours after the accident, TMZ posted images of Payne’s body. After backlash, TMZ removed the 

article–but it was too late. People had already saved and shared the images across social media. Searches for “Liam Payne Body TMZ” quickly trended.

More recent examples show the same pattern. On Sept. 10, 2025, Republican activist Charlie Kirk was fatally shot while addressing an audience. Graphic videos, including one showing the moment of impact in slow motion, emerged online within hours. Soon after, searches for “Charlie Kirk Video Shooting” began trending.

Photo courtesy of Google Trends

One parent said "My 16-year-old son had seen three graphic videos of Charlie Kirk being shot before Kirk's death was even 

announced. This morning, 40 hours later, on Instagram, one had 20 million views. It's taken Meta almost two days to take it down." The video went viral. 

Violence and uncensored images or videos of accidents, crimes or tragedies are too easily accessible, contributing to desensitization and a lack of empathy in society. Both the public and the media are responsible for capturing and sharing content that may show someone’s worst–or final–moments. What does it say about society when privacy is disregarded, empathy is declining and the worst moments of someone’s life are put on display for the world to see?