Slate News What Next: TBD | Tech, power, and the future - You Can't Escape the Charlie Kirk Video
Sep 12, 2025
Craig Silverman, journalist and co-founder of Indicator, dives into the chilling impact of graphic violence on social media. He sheds light on the rapid dissemination of footage surrounding incidents like the Charlie Kirk shooting, raising questions about society's tolerance for such content. The discussion unfolds with insights into the right-wing media landscape, the challenges of content moderation, and the weaponization of graphic imagery to shape narratives. Silverman urges listeners to navigate these complex realities critically and ethically.
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Graphic Violence Is Now Ubiquitous Online
- Silverman says users should expect graphic violence to appear in social feeds even if they avoid it.
- He notes unprecedented availability and accidental exposure to disturbing imagery across major platforms.
Outrage As An Engagement Engine
- The MAGA movement and Charlie Kirk leveraged shock and provocation to game engagement algorithms.
- Extremity and controversy helped his content rise because platforms reward engagement.
Crowdsourced Investigations Go Awry
- Silverman described the rapid, messy public evidence-gathering after Kirk was shot, with misidentified suspects circulating.
- He highlighted how abundant footage lets people piece narratives that can lead to false accusations.