University of Kwazulu-Natal

Charlie Kirk Killing Rumors Misinformation Rampant On Social Media Msn

Bonisiwe Shabane
-
charlie kirk killing rumors misinformation rampant on social media msn

To a query beneath a clip condemning Kirk’s killing, Perplexity’s bot account incorrectly said the individual was describing a “hypothetical scenario”, and that Kirk was “still alive.” Updated 2 months ago · Published on 12 Sep 2025 8:18AM IN the aftermath of Charlie Kirk’s shooting, Reuters found that both Perplexity’s bot account and xAI’s Grok chatbot provided incorrect responses to queries on X. In response to a query beneath a clip condemning Kirk’s killing, Perplexity’s bot account incorrectly said the individual was describing a “hypothetical scenario”, and that Kirk was “still alive.” It also responded to a graphic released by the White House that featured a statement on the incident, saying that it appeared to be “fabricated,”, incorrectly adding that there had been “no official confirmation”... Whether you agree or disagree with our analysis, these conversations matter for democracy.

We don't take money from political groups - even a $5 donation helps us keep it that way. Rumors that Charlie Kirk had died began circulating on social media in the immediate aftermath of conflicting posts and unverified claims; some of those early posts were amplified by partisan accounts and dedicated webpages... The origin story is mixed: the earliest viral items were unverified shares and a now-notorious fundraising website, and separate inflammatory claims from partisan actors helped propel false narratives and threats even as mainstream outlets... 1. How a social-media wildfire seeded the first death whispers The first wave of "he’s dead" posts arrived as short-form unverified claims on Twitter/X and Facebook, where sensational messages travel faster than verification; fact-checking outlets recorded that these items lacked credible sourcing and were...

Those initial posts included screenshots, alleged eyewitness snippets, and recycled older images presented without context. The pattern fits classic misinformation flows: a vivid claim + easy-to-share format + partisan interest produced broad reach before reporters could confirm details. Early debunking notices and corrections arrived within 24–48 hours of the viral claims, but the initial posts had already generated replies, memes, and further spin that made retraction difficult to contain [1]. 2. Opportunistic websites and fundraising pages fanned mistrust Reporting credits: Seana Davis, Carmel Jaeslin, Shruthi Ramachandran, Neha Mustafi, Anagha TR, Reuters Fact Check Editing by Rod Nickel

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab Charlie Kirk’s mastery of social media was key to him becoming a force in conservative politics. Social media has become the town square for increasingly strident debate and the forum for which conservatives have sought to punish people they feel aren’t offering Kirk the proper respect. American flags and flowers are displayed at a memorial for Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University, Monday, Sept. 15, 2025, in Orem, Utah. (AP Photo/Jesse Bedayn)

This combination of photos from 2017 to 2022 shows the logos of Facebook, YouTube, TikTok and Snapchat on mobile devices. (AP Photo, File) Volunteers from Maitry Nepal clean police station which was vandalized during anti-corruption protests sparked by a short-lived social media ban in Kathmandu, Nepal, Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha) Charlie Kirk’s mastery of social media was key to his rise as an influence in conservative politics.

So the extent to which his death and its aftermath have played out on those forums shouldn’t come as a surprise. Rumors, Misinformation About Charlie Kirk Killing Rampant on Social Media A drone view shows the scene where U.S. right-wing activist, commentator, Charlie Kirk, an ally of U.S. President Donald Trump, was fatally shot during an event at Utah Valley University, in Orem, Utah, U.S. September 11, 2025.

REUTERS/Cheney Orr Confusion and conspiracy theories spread online after conservative activist Charlie Kirk was fatally shot during a university appearance in Orem, Utah, on Wednesday. As the manhunt continued, online speculation, much of it baseless, emerged about the circumstances of the shooting and the identity of the shooter. Online posts also shared fake headlines about the killing, or real headlines with fake timestamps to claim the media had advance knowledge of the plan. And social media users trying to get clarity from AI chatbots found they were misled. • Charlie Kirk, a conservative US political activist and campaigner for President Donald Trump, has been fatally shot at an event at Utah Valley University.

• The shooter – who is still at large – is believed to have fired once from a nearby roof in a “targeted attack,” according to the Utah Department of Public Safety, which is... • A manhunt is underway. Two people who were considered suspects were later released, the department said. • There has been an outpouring of condemnation from both sides of the aisle. Trump described Kirk’s death as a “dark moment for America” and blamed rhetoric from the “radical left” for causing political violence. • As Trump remade the Republican Party over the past decade, Kirk embodied the GOP’s newfound populist conservatism in the social media age.

Trump has credited Kirk with galvanizing and mobilizing the youth vote for him. These were the updates on the killing of Charlie Kirk for Thursday, September 11. Trump ally and activist Charlie Kirk shot dead at Utah university By Nils Adler, Joseph Stepansky and Brian Osgood This live page is now closed. You can continue to follow our coverage here.

People Also Search

To A Query Beneath A Clip Condemning Kirk’s Killing, Perplexity’s

To a query beneath a clip condemning Kirk’s killing, Perplexity’s bot account incorrectly said the individual was describing a “hypothetical scenario”, and that Kirk was “still alive.” Updated 2 months ago · Published on 12 Sep 2025 8:18AM IN the aftermath of Charlie Kirk’s shooting, Reuters found that both Perplexity’s bot account and xAI’s Grok chatbot provided incorrect responses to queries on ...

We Don't Take Money From Political Groups - Even A

We don't take money from political groups - even a $5 donation helps us keep it that way. Rumors that Charlie Kirk had died began circulating on social media in the immediate aftermath of conflicting posts and unverified claims; some of those early posts were amplified by partisan accounts and dedicated webpages... The origin story is mixed: the earliest viral items were unverified shares and a no...

Those Initial Posts Included Screenshots, Alleged Eyewitness Snippets, And Recycled

Those initial posts included screenshots, alleged eyewitness snippets, and recycled older images presented without context. The pattern fits classic misinformation flows: a vivid claim + easy-to-share format + partisan interest produced broad reach before reporters could confirm details. Early debunking notices and corrections arrived within 24–48 hours of the viral claims, but the initial posts h...

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., Opens New Tab

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab Charlie Kirk’s mastery of social media was key to him becoming a force in conservative politics. Social media has become the town square for increasingly strident debate and the forum for which conservatives have sought to punish people they feel aren’t offering Kirk the proper respect. American flags and flowers are displayed at ...

This Combination Of Photos From 2017 To 2022 Shows The

This combination of photos from 2017 to 2022 shows the logos of Facebook, YouTube, TikTok and Snapchat on mobile devices. (AP Photo, File) Volunteers from Maitry Nepal clean police station which was vandalized during anti-corruption protests sparked by a short-lived social media ban in Kathmandu, Nepal, Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha) Charlie Kirk’s mastery of social media w...