Digital Safety: Protecting Yourself and Children from Graphic Content Online

The viral spread of graphic content depicting Ronnie McNutt’s death in August-September 2020 affected millions of people worldwide — many of whom were exposed involuntarily through social media algorithms, disguised videos, and deliberate sharing by bad actors. Parents reported their children being shown the content on TikTok. Adults described being blindsided by videos that appeared harmless before cutting to graphic footage.

This guide provides practical strategies for protecting yourself, your children, and your community from graphic content online — and explains what to do if you or someone you know has already been exposed.

Understanding How Graphic Content Spreads

The spread of Ronnie McNutt’s video followed patterns that are common with viral graphic content:

Disguised Content

Bad actors often embed graphic content within otherwise innocent-looking videos. In the case of Ronnie’s video, Rolling Stone reported that Joshua Steen’s wife encountered the footage hidden in a video that opened with puppies. This “bait-and-switch” tactic is designed to bypass content moderation and catch viewers off guard.

Algorithmic Amplification

Platforms like TikTok use recommendation algorithms that surface content based on engagement metrics — views, shares, comments — rather than content quality. Graphic content often generates high engagement (including horrified reactions and warning comments), which algorithms interpret as a signal to show the content to more users.

TikTok’s auto-play “For You” page was particularly problematic, as users were shown the content without any chance to opt out or prepare.

Bot Campaigns

As Joshua Steen documented in his BBC interview, automated bot accounts systematically reposted the content, creating new accounts as fast as reported ones were removed. This coordinated spreading makes it nearly impossible for platforms to fully contain the content.

False Narratives

The content was often accompanied by fabricated stories about who Ronnie was, designed to generate curiosity and encourage sharing. None of these stories were true, but they fueled the spread.

Protecting Children and Teenagers

Young people are particularly vulnerable to the psychological effects of graphic content exposure. According to research from the Teenage Mental Health organization, viewing graphic violence online can cause PTSD-like symptoms, increased anxiety, desensitization to violence, and disruption to normal development.

Practical Steps for Parents

• Enable platform safety features:
  • TikTok: Enable “Family Pairing” and “Restricted Mode”
  • YouTube: Enable “Restricted Mode” or use YouTube Kids
  • Instagram: Set accounts to private and enable “Sensitive Content Control”
  • Facebook: Review and restrict content settings
• Talk to your children about what to do if they encounter disturbing content:
  • Stop watching immediately — close the app or look away
  • Tell a trusted adult right away
  • Know it’s not their fault for seeing it
  • It’s okay to feel upset — their feelings are normal
• Monitor screen time without being invasive — know what platforms your children use
• Create a safe space where children feel comfortable telling you about upsetting online experiences without fear of punishment
• Report disturbing content on every platform where you encounter it

For Educators

• Be aware of trending graphic content that may be circulating among students
• Have protocols in place for students who report exposure to disturbing content
• Know your school’s counseling resources and how to refer students
• Teach digital literacy: critical evaluation of content, recognizing manipulation tactics, and knowing when to stop watching

Protecting Yourself as an Adult

Adults are not immune to the effects of graphic content. Steps to protect yourself:

Preventive Measures

• Curate your feeds: Unfollow or mute accounts that share shocking or graphic content
• Use platform filters: Most platforms offer “sensitive content” settings — enable them
• Be cautious with trending topics: When a tragedy is trending, be selective about what you click on
• Avoid “doom scrolling”: Set time limits for social media use, especially during traumatic news events
• Don’t engage with graphic thumbnails or clickbait — engagement signals tell algorithms to show more of this content

If You’ve Been Exposed

If you’ve seen graphic content — whether the Ronnie McNutt video or any other disturbing material — know that your reaction is normal and there are steps you can take:

• Stop watching immediately. Close the app, put down the device, look at something else
• Ground yourself. Use the 5-4-3-2-1 technique: identify 5 things you can see, 4 you can touch, 3 you can hear, 2 you can smell, 1 you can taste
• Talk to someone you trust about what you saw and how you’re feeling
• Limit further exposure. Avoid seeking out the content again or reading detailed descriptions
• Seek professional help if symptoms persist:
  • Intrusive thoughts or images you can’t stop
  • Nightmares or difficulty sleeping
  • Anxiety, panic attacks, or constant unease
  • Emotional numbness or difficulty functioning
  • Suicidal thoughts (call 988 immediately)

Reporting Graphic Content

Every report matters. Even if it feels futile, reports create data that platforms use to improve their content moderation:

How to Report on Major Platforms

• TikTok: Long-press the video → “Report” → select “Suicide, self-harm, or dangerous acts”
• Facebook/Instagram: Tap the three dots on a post → “Report” → select the appropriate category
• YouTube: Click the flag icon below a video → “Report” → select “Violent or graphic content”
• Twitter/X: Tap the share button → “Report” → select “Abusive or harmful”
• Reddit: Click “Report” below a post → select the relevant rule violation

Tips for Effective Reporting

• Report immediately — don’t wait
• Be specific about why the content violates guidelines
• Block the account that shared it to prevent seeing more from them
• If the content involves a minor being exposed, report to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children’s CyberTipline

The Responsibility of Sharing

One of the most important things you can do is never share graphic content, even to raise awareness or express outrage. Every share:

• Exposes more people to traumatic content involuntarily
• Re-traumatizes the victim’s family and loved ones
• Signals to algorithms that the content is engaging, causing it to spread further
• May violate safe messaging guidelines around suicide
• Can trigger suicide contagion in vulnerable individuals

If you want to raise awareness about an issue like veteran suicide prevention, share resources, crisis hotlines, and survivor stories — not graphic content.

Long-Term Digital Safety Habits

• Regularly review your privacy and content settings on all platforms
• Teach media literacy to children and teens — how to evaluate content, recognize manipulation, and protect their mental health online
• Support platform accountability: Advocate for stronger content moderation through contacting representatives and supporting reform organizations
• Take breaks from social media when you notice it affecting your mental health
• Know where to get help: Keep crisis resource numbers accessible (988 Lifeline, Crisis Text Line: text HOME to 741741)

Resources

• Teenage Mental Health: Viewing Violence Online
• VA: Safe Messaging Best Practices (PDF)
• ReportingOnSuicide.org: Safe Messaging Guidelines
• NCMEC CyberTipline — Report Child Safety Concerns

This content is for awareness and education. If you or someone you know is in crisis, please call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.