ITV‘s ‘TikTok: Murder Gone Viral’ Draws Criticism for Exploitative Approach to Tragic Cases
A new ITV documentary series,TikTok: Murder Gone Viral,is facing scrutiny for its handling of three high-profile cases-the deaths of Charlie Cosser,Jack Varybrus,and Brianna Ghey-and its ambiguous portrayal of social media’s role in those tragedies. The series, which aired on ITV1 and is available on ITVX, examines how TikTok played a part in the aftermath and public awareness of each crime, but critics argue it sensationalizes the events and diminishes the victims’ stories.
The three-part series focuses on the impact of online content surrounding the killings. The frist episode details the murder of Charlie Cosser,highlighting the efforts of his father,Martin,who uses TikTok to raise awareness about knife crime through the charity Charlie’s Promise. The second episode covers the death of Jack Varybrus, noting a surge of racist commentary online falsely identifying him as a Ukrainian refugee, though providing limited further detail. The final episode revisits the widely publicized death of Brianna Ghey, a transgender teenager who found community on TikTok.
Reviewers have criticized the series for its uneven approach, suggesting it “picks and chooses how it feels about the internet from minute to minute.” While the Cosser episode benefits from the family’s active engagement with online advocacy, the Varybrus segment lacks depth, and the Ghey episode, despite highlighting Brianna’s positive experiences on the app and her connections with other transgender individuals, relies on “generic waffling of strangers” to fill narrative gaps. Brianna’s father, peter, states that she “blossomed” on TikTok, and her friend Viv, also transgender, recounts meeting Brianna through the platform.
Despite potential for impactful storytelling, the series is seen by some as falling short of its potential.While acknowledging the possibility of doing “more good than harm,” critics remain uncertain about the documentary’s ultimate message regarding social media’s influence on these devastating events.
