The recent murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson has brought to the forefront the disturbing trend of social media platforms inadvertently glorifying violent crimes. The accused shooter, Luigi Mangione, has become an online celebrity of sorts, with his face plastered all over social media feeds, and his personal details, including his video game preferences and Reddit comments, being widely shared.

This phenomenon raises serious questions about the role of social media in perpetuating a culture of violence and its potential impact on future incidents. As of this writing, there are over 100 fanfics about the shooter on Archive of Our Own, and Mangione-themed merchandise is selling out on Etsy. This level of online engagement is not only disturbing but also raises concerns about the potential for social contagion, where highly publicized killings inspire others to commit similar acts.

In the past, social media platforms have taken steps to scrub the profiles of people accused of high-profile killings, and searches for their names were often suppressed. However, in recent years, there has been a shift towards more aggressive moderation, leaving users' impulses unchecked. This lack of moderation has contributed to the widespread dissemination of Mangione's message and ideology.

Zeynep Tufekci, who previously advocated for avoiding publicizing the accused killer's identity and detailing the method by which it was accomplished, recently wrote an op-ed describing a video of the killing and noting the messages found on the shell casings. Her comparison of Thompson's murder to a wave of killings in Gilded Age America highlights the growing concern over wealth inequality and its potential link to violent incidents.

The police themselves have contributed to the widespread dissemination of Mangione's image, releasing at least four photos of him, including a striking photo taken for The New York Times, which shows Mangione as the sole bright spot at the center of an otherwise dark photograph, haloed like a Renaissance portrait of a saint. This level of media attention has undoubtedly contributed to Mangione's celebrity status.

Murder as entertainment is not a new phenomenon, as evidenced by the fan base of the Columbine shooters and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, convicted of the Boston Marathon bombing. However, the widespread glorification of Mangione's actions on social media platforms is a worrying trend. The reaction to Thompson's murder has been largely focused on anger towards UnitedHealthcare, with many people sharing their experiences with claims denials and the company's alleged intentional denial of claims to juice profits.

The job of a CEO is, in part, to serve as the symbolic representation of a company. Killing the CEO of UnitedHealthcare doesn't kill UnitedHealthcare, but it does make a statement. The symbolic nature of Mangione's act is evident in the "deny, delay, depose" bullet casings. Brian Thompson, a literal human being, has been blotted out by his symbolic role as the head of UnitedHealthcare.

The consequences of Mangione's actions are already being felt, with several companies removing photos of their executives from their websites, and one insurer temporarily closing its headquarters. Another insurer switched its investor day from in-person to online. The swift reversal of Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield's policy to stop reimbursing anesthesia beyond a certain time limit is also notable.

The possibility of contagion, as referenced in the NYPD report, is still theoretical. However, the public celebration of Mangione and the timing of the Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield announcement may suggest to some that violence will make corporate executives likelier to agree to regulation and smaller profits, because they prefer that to credible murder threats. The reaction to Mangione suggests something else: political murder in America feels so inevitable now that we've simply accepted it.

In conclusion, the UnitedHealthcare shooter's online presence has raised serious concerns over social media's role in glorifying murder and its potential impact on future violent incidents. It is imperative that social media platforms re-evaluate their moderation policies and take steps to prevent the glorification of violent crimes.