Bluesky warns 38 million users it will remove posts celebrating Charlie Kirk’s killing
Platform says glorifying violence violates its guidelines as other tech companies move to remove graphic or celebratory content after the Utah shooting
Bluesky said it will remove posts and may suspend accounts that celebrate the assassination of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk, telling its roughly 38 million users that content glorifying violence violates the site’s rules.
The platform’s Safety account said in a post that "glorifying violence or harm violates Bluesky's Community Guidelines" and that the company reviews reports and takes action on content that celebrates harm against anyone. Bluesky’s moderation policy, known internally as the "Cardinal Directions," warns that users who promote or celebrate political violence could be suspended or removed.
Kirk, 31, was fatally shot while speaking at an event at Utah Valley University in Orem on Wednesday. The shooting occurred about 20 minutes into a debate-style forum during the "American Comeback" event; witnesses and video circulating online showed a single gunshot that struck Kirk in the neck. University officials and law enforcement have been handling the criminal investigation, and media organizations and social platforms moved to limit the spread of graphic footage of the attack.
Bluesky, which launched a public app in 2023 and positions itself as an alternative to the platform formerly known as Twitter, said it enforces rules against content that praises, supports or celebrates violence. Founded as a project within Twitter and later spun out as an independent company, the site has promoted stronger content-moderation rules than those adopted by some competitors and has grown in the years since Elon Musk’s purchase and rebranding of Twitter.
Other major platforms issued similar statements in the hours after videos and posts about the shooting circulated online. A Meta spokesperson reiterated the company’s policy to remove the most graphic content and to apply warning labels where appropriate to prevent casual viewing of sensitive material. A Reddit representative said sitewide rules prohibit encouraging, glorifying or calling for violence. YouTube said it was monitoring uploads and removed videos that violated its policies, while offering condolences to Kirk’s family. Discord also issued guidance to remove content that celebrated the attack.
Media organizations likewise faced scrutiny over on-air and online reactions. One political analyst was dismissed from MSNBC after comments made on air following the shooting, according to network statements.
Kirk was the founder of Turning Point USA, a nonprofit that promotes conservative ideas on college campuses. He had a high profile among conservative media and political circles and had posted to social media shortly before the attack, writing "WE. ARE. SO. BACK" and describing Utah Valley University as "fired up" for the event. He is survived by his wife, Erika, and two children.
The incident has renewed debate over how social platforms should police content that depicts or celebrates real-world violence. Companies face the dual challenge of rapidly removing graphic material and preventing posts that could incite further harm, while providing clear explanations to users about enforcement actions. Bluesky’s message to users emphasized a prohibition on celebrating or promoting violence and framed the enforcement action as part of its commitment to "fostering healthy, open conversations."
Platform responses to violent incidents continue to evolve as companies balance speed of enforcement, automated detection tools and user reporting. Law enforcement agencies are conducting the criminal investigation into the shooting at Utah Valley University, while social platforms said they will continue to monitor and remove content that violates their policies as queries and reports come in.