Most young Americans think healthcare CEO's murder was at least partially justified, new survey suggests
The Network Contagion Research Institute (NCRI) has been tracking online threats to individuals, organizations, and communities for many years. A recent report produced by the NCRI shows what it calls a “dangerous shift in societal norms” following the murder of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson. Specifically, the report reveals that the vast majority of younger people and those who spend a great deal of time online believe the murder to have been justified. It also suggests that other people in similar roles to that held by Thompson — as well as the very rich — may have reason to fear for their own lives.
Only 1 in 5 young people categorically reject murder
The report, titled, “Killing with Applause: Emergent Permission Structures for Murder in the Digital Age,” reveals the normalization in American society of violence against corporate figures. Nearly half of Americans surveyed (44 percent) expressed a belief that Thompson’s murder was at least somewhat justified. But this figure does not fully express the societal shift that seems to have occurred, because when the survey results were stratified by age, extremely sharp differences emerged.
Among the 18-27 age group, almost 80 percent of respondents said they thought Thompson’s murder was at least partially justified. That figure dropped to just over 11 percent in the 79+ age group.
Even among people in their sixties and seventies, one in five respondents effectively stated their belief that vigilante-style “justice” may be acceptable in a society supposedly governed by the rule of law.
Social media fries your ethics
Engagement with social media appears to be having an immense impact on people’s ideas of morality. The more time spent on social media, the more likely survey respondents were to see Thompson’s murder as partially or entirely justified. 64 percent of people defined as “heavy” users (who spend over 5.4 hours each day on social media sites) responded that the murder was at least partially justified, as opposed to just 23 percent of people defined as “low-users” (up to 1.3 hours a day on social media).
Implicit glorification of murder and support for the alleged murderer are to be found in abundance all over social media platforms, with hashtags such as #EatTheRich and #FreeLuigi cropping up in online discussion groups.
#EatTheRich alone has surged by over 500 percent each ensuing week since Thompson’s murder, with the hashtag often accompanied by incitement to violence against other corporate figures. “CEO Wanted” posters have appeared in several cities and though they may be ripped down, their images are circulating widely online.
Latter-day Saints
As for Mangione himself, the slogan “Free Luigi” was posted almost 50,000 times in the two days following his arrest. He now has around half a million people “following” him on social media and his images are to be found emblazoned on T-shirts and mugs, as well as on posters depicting him as a modern-day saint.
Other developments such as the “UHC Shooter Lookalike Contest” recently held in Washington Square Park might be interpreted as setting the stage for the next Mangione wannabe to emerge from the shadows and claim his own few days of infamy.
Not so sunny in that blue sky
Bluesky, a new media platform lauded by many “progressives” for its alleged gentler rhetoric, has ironically been revealed as being more likely to harbor those in favor of murder, in certain circumstances, than other social media platforms:
According to the survey, 78 percent of Bluesky users justified Thompson’s murder, a higher percentage than what was found on platforms widely considered extremist such as Gab and 4chan.
New ideas or just newfound freedom to express them?
The report suggests that given these findings, Thompson’s murder may be just the first of its kind:
The murder of Brian Thompson appears to have catalyzed a dangerous feedback loop, where glorification, humor, conspiracy, and targeted harassment create an environment ripe for further violence.
The NCRI authors seem to regard these developments as essentially new, calling beliefs now apparently shared by almost half of survey respondents “previously unacceptable.” Given that similar surveys conducted in the wake of a murder of a corporate figure do not seem to have been conducted, it is impossible to say whether these beliefs were actually seen as unacceptable before, or whether people quietly shared them and now feel emboldened to express them.
The NCRI study includes a clear warning of further violence unless steps are taken, although the nature of the steps needed is left unstated:
As digital platforms become arenas for ideological conflict, the consequences extend beyond individual incidents of violence to threaten broader public safety and societal cohesion. This transformation underscores the urgent need for strategies that address the root causes of digital radicalization and mitigate its impacts.
The challenges we face require a comprehensive and collaborative response. No single entity can address the complexities of digital radicalization alone. Policymakers, educators, platforms, and community leaders must work in unison to restore the moral boundaries against violent extremism.
Given that social media platform owners have apparently been singled out as potential future targets, it’s possible that they will gladly be part of any future project undertaken to address this issue:
The study concludes that the “line between digital rhetoric and real-world violence is increasingly blurred” and that social media platforms are apparently key in facilitating a move from the imaginary to the real. The biggest predictors for making that move are, according to the survey’s results, “social media usage, authoritarian tendencies, and a reduced sense of personal agency.”
The spread and scope of justification for murder have significantly eroded what was once the monopoly of fringe communities in supporting violence and glorifying shooters online. This shift underscores the urgency of initiatives aimed at reinforcing the bonds of civic trust and restoring civility. Such efforts are essential not only in countering the tide of extremism but also in fostering a resilient society where dialogue and mutual respect prevail.
