The message of murderers has moved in among the children

The darkest corners of the internet have infiltrated children's favorite platforms, with videos of mass murderers dancing and inciting violence appearing alongside baking and makeup tutorials. This alarming trend, where extreme violence is normalized and even celebrated, is now a neighbor to everyday content on platforms like TikTok.

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The internet's darkest rabbit holes have found their way to children's favorite platform.

The "true crime community" (TCC) is not primarily an ideological movement but rather a manifestation of misanthropy packaged as "playful" content. Animations depict terrorists like Anders Behring Breivik dancing against a backdrop of Utøya, and school shooter Anton Lundin Pettersson swaying his hips in front of police tape. These digital displays create a dense community that can be magnetic for individuals who feel ostracized and are already simmering with rage.

Ten years ago, the author's research into the Trollhättan massacre led to the digital footprint of the triple murderer, who spent significant time on the then-relatively unknown forum 4chan. There, the 21-year-old consumed content encouraging suicide and murder, all wrapped in black humor as a defense against criticism. Today, such content is readily available on mainstream platforms.

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The influx of people worldwide, often young men, who are deeply fascinated by extreme violence is inexhaustible.

This infiltration into easily accessible platforms like TikTok allows perpetrators of violence to create a sense of normalcy and reach a wider audience of young men. A craftsman shared how families now often avoid entering the rooms of their teenage sons, who spend all their time alone at their computers. The account linked to the 18-year-old suspected in the Fagerstad incident was highly active in the TCC environment on TikTok, sharing homemade videos of notorious murderers and gaining high status within the community.

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Now I am urged to skip the room where the teenage son lives. For many families, it has become normal not to even go in there, but to let him sit alone at his computer.