by by: Bella Medina
Social media started out as an ongoing effort. Between being the prettiest, the funniest and the most traveled platforms such as Instagram and TikTok used to be about advertising the best possible version of ourselves. However, it has quickly traversed into who can be the most unserious.
From meme’s to unsolicited and controversial takes every trending post on the For You page presents as a joke. Even with serious news, once it sparks a trend on social media every media user with the power of editing and online stalking ability takes it and runs with it. Recently, the hot topic is the New York “CEO Shooter” who was caught inconspicuously on camera shooting UnitedHealthcare’s former CEO, Brian Thompson on Dec. 4. A young man, Luigi Nicholas Mangione, Ivy-league graduate was turned in by an employee at a McDonald’s in Pennsylvania.
Within hours News of Mangione’s arrest and simultaneous exposure to social media sparked immediate support and fascination to the point of viral admiration. After his mugshot and arrest details started circulating, social media platforms were flooded with posts either admiring Mangione’s appearance or making light of the incident. “Thirst traps”—edited photos and videos framing Mangione in a flattering, almost romanticized light—dominated the For You page on TikTok. Memes joking about his Ivy League background and speculation about his motives further fueled online engagement. The irony was not lost on many users: a man accused of murder was quickly turned into an unlikely internet sensation. Big media outlets, including Fox News and ABC, have even covered the phenomenon, noting how social media’s irreverence often complicates public perceptions of high-profile cases. Some argue that such trends desensitize audiences to the gravity of crime, while others suggest it reflects how social media fosters a sense of community through humor, no matter the context.
On TikTok and Instagram, hashtags such as #luigi and #CEOShooter has amassed millions of views, with users debating whether Mangione’s presumed actions were ingeniously premeditated and to what extent. Others posted parody videos, showcasing obviously photoshopped pictures of themselves and Mangione at the time of the crime and even reimagining the crime scene with exaggerated dramatizations or inserting Mangione into unrelated pop culture moments. While much of this is intended as harmless fun, it blurs the lines between commentary and glorification.
There is a duality to this all-too-honest, all-too-willing camaraderie on social media. On one hand, platforms allow users to process and discuss serious issues through humor and community bonding. On the other hand, this approach often strips away the nuance and seriousness that such topics deserve.
Hi Bella, I really enjoyed this article. You articulated some topics I’ve been thinking a lot about. It’s so true that we’ve been conditioned to cope with serious issues in ways that often desensitize us to their weight. This also made me think about the Diddy case and how the true implications of the situation are often overlooked, overshadowed by memes and social media discourse. Great work!
Hey Bella, this article addresses a very interesting and important topic involving the current state of social media. It seems at this point that nobody can take anything serious on social media platforms. Almost like its disconnected from the real world even when covering real life topics. I’m starting to feel like the line is being blurred between social media and news and that can cause many issues with how un-serious people are on social media.
Great work, Bella! I was intrested in reading your article as I have been seeing all of the content about Mangione online. Your article was well-written, easy to follow, and engaging to the audience. I beleive this case is a perfect example of how news on social media is being turned into memes and is loosing its validity. Similar to Mia, this case is bringing up deja vu of the Diddy case. As a society, we need to find a way to balance fun and news online, without turning tragedy into comedy.
Great job! I really liked your blog post and I think the topic is really unique. It’s something that I’ve also wondered, so I liked reading your ideas! I like that you brought in a current example (Mangione), which makes the post more current and interesting to read. Well done!