TikTok in Tragedy: Exploring Online Sensemaking and Emotional Responses to the Idaho College Student Murders

 

Kyra Briggs

Strategic Communications, Elon University

Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements in an undergraduate senior capstone course in communications

Abstract

This study examines how TikTok users responded to the Idaho college student murders, focusing on emotional expression, narrative construction, misinformation, and collective sensemaking. Guided by Media System Dependency (MSD) Theory, the research explores how individuals rely on social media for interpretation, emotional regulation, and understanding during crises. Qualitative thematic content analysis was conducted using 80 top comments drawn from four TikTok videos posted during key stages of the case, including the arraignment, trial start, sentencing, and the public release of evidence. The findings show that emotional reactions, including grief, anger, fear, and empathy, appeared consistently across all stages of the discussion. Users frequently constructed narratives, attempted to interpret case details, and debated legal developments, reflecting ongoing efforts to reduce uncertainty. Misinformation and rumor-based speculation were common during the early phase of the case, while later stages focused more on legal analysis and ethical considerations. Overall, TikTok served as a space for emotional processing and public discussion of violence, highlighting social media’s role in shaping collective understanding during crises.

Keywords: TikTok, crisis communication, emotional expression, sensemaking, misinformation
Email: kbriggs11@elon.edu

I. Introduction

On November 13, 2022, four University of Idaho students were killed at an off-campus house, shocking communities nationwide and sparking widespread online discussion (Shapiro, 2025). Within minutes, TikTok filled with videos, personal stories, and emotional reactions, quickly becoming a public forum for crisis response. Users shared grief, fear, and outrage, capturing how community reactions to tragedy unfold on social media. TikTok’s fast-moving, viral content enabled real-time interpretation and response, providing a space for collective sensemaking.

To explore these interactions systematically, this study applied Media System Dependency (MSD) Theory. The theory explains how individuals rely on media for guidance, emotional support, and understanding during crises (Kim, 2020). Social media platforms serve as “significant arenas for comprehending crises, hardships, violence, and murder” (Lev-On, 2023, p. 1708), providing insight into emotional expression, storytelling, and social influence. TikTok’s open platform allows users not only to shape narratives and support the community but also to spread misinformation (Dobber & Hameleers, 2024). Studying these interactions helps clarify online behavior and emotional expression and shows how information is shared during crises.

This study examined TikTok content following the Idaho murders to identify patterns in emotional expression, narrative construction, online advocacy, and misinformation. The research also explored how users engage with traumatic content and considered how algorithm-driven, short-form videos shape real-time responses and information sharing. The following literature review provides an overview of prior research on social media interactions during crises.

II. Literature Review

This literature review examines research on social media interactions during crises, focusing on how social media users interpret events, share emotions, and construct narratives. TikTok’s short-form videos circulate rapidly, creating a unique environment for collective sensemaking. Emotional expression and information sharing occur simultaneously on the platform. Media System Dependency (MSD) Theory frames how individuals rely on media during uncertain events.

Media System Dependency (MSD) Theory

MSD Theory explains how people rely on media to meet needs like gathering information, guiding decisions, and regulating emotions during uncertainty (Kim, 2020). TikTok serves as a platform where media dependency may be observed, allowing analysis of how users interpret the Idaho murders, share emotions, and connect with others. This structure allows users to bypass traditional gatekeeping, since “anyone with an internet connection can contribute to the public arena” (Dobber & Hameleers, 2024, p. 4). MSD Theory provides a framework for understanding TikTok’s role during crises, offering insight into how users may rely on media for guidance, emotional support, and interpretation of events.

Emotional Responses and Community Sensemaking

On TikTok, users engage in collective sensemaking by sharing emotions and constructing narratives to process trauma. Communities frequently cycle through grief, anger, fear, and even humor as coping mechanisms. In one study, after a campus shooting, Twitter users expressed disgust/contempt (29.5%), numbness (19.8%), anger (16.6%), and sadness or grief (15.4%). Other reactions contained positive emotions such as humor, hope, and appreciation. Many also included communal responses, including prayers, victim remembrance, support for healing, action-oriented content, and factual information (Bowling et al., 2022).

These emotional expressions reveal how social media users manage distress and communicate support during crises. Emotions also shape narrative construction, influencing perceptions of events, victims, and perpetrators. They also affect how information and misinformation spread on the platform. TikTok’s interactive environment strengthens this process, as users respond to, validate, or challenge one another’s experiences. This interaction creates a fluid, collective interpretation of the tragedy.

Storytelling and Narrative Construction

Storytelling plays a central role in how TikTok users discuss violent events, shaping moral perspectives, personal reflections, and public perceptions. The platform’s short-form video format accelerates the creation and circulation of narratives, allowing content to spread quickly across communities. After a crisis, posts often focus on remembering victims, assigning responsibility, and calling for justice. One analysis found that “the variety of communal response, action and information themes … highlight the importance of remembering victims, as well as assessing or assigning blame … and seeking justice” (Bowling et al., 2022, p. 9).

TikTok users often act as amateur investigators, using multiple sources to construct interpretations. Research indicates that “people often use materials from the media and other sources to collaboratively generate narratives that make sense” (Lev-On, 2023, p. 1711). These user-generated narratives serve both interpretive and protective functions, helping communities manage anxiety and uncertainty (Foster et al., 2025). In the case of the Idaho murders, TikTok discussions reveal how personal and collective storytelling influence emotional responses, moral judgments, and perceptions of credibility.

Examining TikTok storytelling illustrates how narratives are shared and co-constructed in real time, revealing the interplay between individual expression and collective sensemaking during crises. While these narratives help communities process trauma, they can also enable the spread of misinformation, particularly when speculative “amateur detective” behavior emerges.

Misinformation and “Amateur Detective” Behavior

Misinformation is a significant feature of online discussions surrounding violent events, often spread by both influencers and ordinary TikTok users. Users frequently engage in “amateur detective” behavior, speculating about motives, events, or individuals involved in a crisis (Mulcahy et al., 2024, p. 6).

The lack of accountability on TikTok can increase the potential for harm, as “TikTok creators have the potential to cause more damage to the presumption of innocence because … most TikTok creators have no credentials, are not accountable to a larger organization, and face minimal consequences for sharing unverified information” (Sanders, 2025, p. 523). To increase perceived credibility, users may reference claims or expert sources when making sense of complex situations (Lev-On, 2023, p. 1710).

Studying this behavior is critical for understanding how misinformation spreads on TikTok, especially during rapidly unfolding cases. Users’ amateur investigations can shape public perception, influence emotional responses, and impact collective sensemaking. By analyzing these patterns, this research emphasizes the risks and consequences of misinformation in online crisis discussions and highlights the dual role of TikTok as a space for both information sharing and potential misguidance.

Psychological and Social Impacts of Violent Content

Exposure to graphic or distressing content on social media can evoke strong emotional and behavioral responses. Violent content may lead to “negative emotional experiences, cognitive changes, and tension in social relationships” (Wang, 2024, p. 152). Comment sections also influence perceptions of community norms and media trust, as “exposure to the comment section accompanying news stories on social media indeed has negative ramifications for news media trust” (Dobber & Hameleers, 2024, p. 3). These patterns present social media as both a space for emotional support and a channel for misinformation during crises.

Social media discussions reveal how those left behind process trauma. The stories relate not only to the chain of events that led to loss and trauma but also to the way in which the people who were “left behind” deal with society and the systems around them (Lev-On, 2023, p. 1710). Emotional responses often reflect a collective awareness of systemic issues, as “the relatively large prevalence of tweets … suggests a broad awareness of the need for systemic change” (Bowling et al., 2022, p. 9). These findings demonstrate the importance of understanding TikTok as a space that simultaneously offers emotional support and facilitates social critique during incidents.

Although prior research has examined emotional responses, narrative construction, misinformation, and collective sensemaking, few studies focus specifically on TikTok discussions of real-world crimes (Dobber & Hameleers, 2024; Lev-On, 2023; Wang, 2024). This study applies MSD Theory to examine how TikTok users rely on the platform for emotional support, information, and collective sensemaking during crises. It focuses on comments following the Idaho college student murders, analyzing narrative construction, emotional expression, and the spread of misinformation. By examining these interactions, this research clarifies how TikTok users collectively make sense of violent events and highlights the platform’s role in shaping social responses and collective narratives (Bowling et al., 2022; Foster et al., 2025). These insights guide the following research questions.

Research Questions

RQ1: What overall themes emerge in TikTok comments related to the Idaho murders?

RQ2: In what ways are emotional reactions such as fear, grief, or anger expressed in TikTok users’ responses?

RQ3: How do TikTok users share stories or promote justice and safety in their commentary?

RQ4: How do these themes, emotional reactions, and calls to action evolve over time or during key coverage points?

These questions aim to reveal recurring patterns in how social media users collectively interpret and respond to violent events. By examining themes, emotional expressions, and storytelling practices, the study seeks to understand both individual and community-level sensemaking on TikTok.

This research is significant because it provides insight into how social media functions as a space for support, narrative sharing, and sometimes misinformation. Findings may inform media literacy initiatives, crisis communication strategies, and public understanding of social media’s influence. Additionally, understanding TikTok users’ responses can help platforms, educators, and policymakers recognize how content and engagement shape public perception during crises. To answer these questions, this study employs qualitative thematic content analysis, systematically examining TikTok comments for emotional, narrative, and informational patterns.

III. Methods

This study used qualitative thematic content analysis of TikTok comments to identify recurring patterns, themes, and emotional responses. TikTok was selected because it features short-form, algorithm-driven videos that encourage high engagement. The platform provided insight into real-time emotional and narrative responses during crises. For this study, the term “comments” refers exclusively to TikTok user comments collected from the selected videos.

Data collection, coding, and analysis addressed the research questions by examining emerging themes (RQ1), emotional responses (RQ2), storytelling and calls for action (RQ3), and changes over time (RQ4). This alignment followed Media System Dependency (MSD) Theory, which explains how people rely on media for understanding, orientation, and social connection during crises (Ball-Rokeach, 1985, 1998). Social media’s fast, visual format enabled immediate reactions and narrative sharing. Exposure to violent content may affect emotional regulation and attitudes toward violence (Wang, 2024, p. 154). At the same time, comment sections provided communal support for users while also creating opportunities for the spread of misinformation (Dobber & Hameleers, 2024). Examining these interactions allowed this study to explore how users collectively interpret, respond to, and share information during crises.

Thematic Content Analysis

The study employed thematic content analysis to systematically interpret TikTok comments, a method well-suited for examining complex social media interactions. Thematic analysis is defined as “a method used in qualitative research to identify patterns, or themes, within a given data set” and is flexible across different research approaches (Miller, 2024). Qualitative data analysis “dives into the stories hidden in non-numerical data such as interviews, open-ended survey answers, or notes from observations” to explore the “whys” and “hows” behind people’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviors (Dye, 2025). Using this approach, the study identified recurring themes such as grief, fear, anger, misinformation, and calls for justice. By coding and categorizing comments, the study captured both explicit expressions and the underlying meanings conveyed by TikTok users.

MSD Theory guided the coding of comments for emotional regulation, information-seeking, and collective sensemaking, showing how TikTok users rely on media during crises. Observed patterns in user interactions also revealed collective sensemaking, showing how communities interpret and respond to tragic events. “Frames and themes are the most powerful features of public information and studying how they change over time is essential to understanding the relevance of communication media” (Altheide & Schneider, 2013, p. 53).

Procedure and Sample Selection

Data collection focused on four key time points in the Idaho murders case: arraignment, trial start, sentencing, and the public release of key evidence. For each event, one TikTok video from a credible, publicly available, English-language news source was selected. The first 20 comments from each video were collected using TikTok’s default “Top” sorting, which highlights the most engaged-with content. All comments were collected on November 2, 2025. This sample of 80 comments provided a manageable yet varied dataset for thematic analysis, allowing in-depth coding of recurring themes (Bullard, 2024).

Coding and Analysis

A codebook was developed using deductive and inductive coding. Deductive codes were based on prior literature and expected themes, including social media engagement, MSD Theory, and emotional responses to crime content. Coding decisions were reviewed systematically to ensure reliability and consistency. Observations also reflected patterns of collective sensemaking among users. Inductive codes emerged from the dataset to capture unanticipated patterns. Each comment was coded for emotional expression, narrative sharing, misinformation, and indications that users were promoting justice or safety.

Qualitative content analysis involved reading, sorting, and familiarizing the researcher with the material to identify themes, with repeated review to ensure analytic accuracy (Barone, 2019). The analysis examined emotional responses, misinformation trends, narrative strategies, and calls for action, and also tracked how these patterns evolved in response to key events. In previous research, collective sensemaking was found to include community protection, as “they collectively constructed narratives aimed at disbelieving the unsubstantiated rumours to protect against the emotional damage the rumour caused” (Foster et al., 2025, p. 14).

Thematic analysis also considered expressions of empathy, often showing concern for others’ safety and offering supportive comments. Ethical considerations were noted, particularly when commenting on victims’ posts could be perceived as inappropriate or potentially harmful, as research indicates some responses cross social boundaries (Coduto, 2025).

After coding was completed, patterns and overarching themes were refined and compared across the four case milestones. This process aligns with MSD Theory by showing how media dependency is associated with information-seeking and emotional regulation. Observed patterns in TikTok user interactions revealed collective sensemaking and provided insight into how communities respond to tragic events. These findings formed the basis for detailed coding decisions, showing how users’ comments captured both emotional engagement and interpretive reasoning.

The coding process involved a series of interpretive decisions that revealed how themes were assigned and how patterns were identified. Each comment required careful judgment to determine the most appropriate category, especially when codes overlapped. For example, the comment, “this story has so many holes in it, he will be found not guilty imo,” was coded under the parent theme Misinformation/Speculation with the subcode Rumor. Although it could have been classified under Temporal/Event-Based, the wording emphasized speculation rather than objective reporting and required careful interpretation.

Another comment, “Provide me with actual evidence 😂😭,” presented a different challenge. The emojis conveyed sarcasm and mockery, so the comment was coded as Humor/Coping because it reflected an emotional response rather than engagement with factual content. Without the emojis, which provided important contextual cues, assigning a code would have been more difficult. This example demonstrated how subtle cues, such as emojis, added context that guided interpretation.

Variation in comment length also affected coding. Some users wrote extended paragraphs, while others contributed only brief remarks. Applying coding criteria consistently across this range revealed the richness of user engagement, emotional expression, and narrative strategies.

Collectively, these decisions illustrate how the analysis developed. They highlight how overlapping codes, contextual cues, and diverse comment styles were navigated to uncover patterns of speculation, humor, and narrative strategies. They also show how users’ interactions reflect processes of information-seeking and emotional regulation, providing insight into collective sensemaking and aligning with MSD Theory.

Ethical Considerations and Researcher Bias

This study analyzed public TikTok content while adhering to ethical standards. Only publicly visible posts and TikTok comments were used, with no private or identifiable information recorded beyond usernames, and all data were anonymized and securely stored. Although the study used only publicly available content, participants’ implicit consent was limited to public engagement. Analyzing only public content qualified the research for exemption from Institutional Review Board review under Elon University guidelines. Researcher bias was minimized through a structured codebook, double-checking coding decisions, and focusing solely on clearly stated content, ensuring the findings accurately address the research questions.

After completing the coding process and organizing the dataset, several major thematic patterns became evident. These findings are presented in alignment with the four research questions that guided this study.

IV. Results

A thematic content analysis of 80 TikTok comments revealed several recurring patterns. These included emotional expression, narrative construction, misinformation, justice-focused messaging, safety advocacy, and commentary prompted by major developments in the case. These patterns demonstrate that TikTok serves as a space for collective sensemaking during the Idaho murder case.

Emerging Thematic Patterns in TikTok Responses (RQ1)

The first research question examined overarching themes across TikTok comments. Five primary categories appeared consistently across the dataset. These included emotional responses, storytelling, interpretations based on misinformation or rumors, calls for justice or safety, and comments related to legal or procedural issues. Emotional expressions ranged from grief and fear to anger and confusion. Users frequently constructed narratives to interpret the crime and its details.

In addition to misinformation, users addressed other concerns, including calls for justice and safety. Misinformation surfaced most often during the early stages of the case, reflected in statements such as “Wait I thought it was the professor 😳.” Others addressed legal elements, including reactions to courtroom behavior, sentencing decisions, and the release of evidence. Some users engaged directly with procedural reasoning. Comments like “Judge is purposefully allowing more time so defence [sic] can’t claim later that there wasn’t sufficient time given” demonstrated awareness of courtroom strategy and fairness.

These themes indicate that users approached the case from emotional, interpretive, and moral perspectives. Comments often combined narrative reconstruction with moral and ethical reflection, showing that engagement with the case was not purely reactive. Users actively interpreted information, assessed fairness, and weighed ethical considerations alongside emotional responses. These findings highlight TikTok as a space for dynamic collective sensemaking around legal and ethical issues.

Emotional Responses to the Idaho Murders (RQ2)

The second research question examined how emotional reactions such as fear, grief, or anger appeared in the comments. Emotional expression emerged as a central pattern within the dataset.

Grief and sympathy appeared frequently, with statements such as “4 beautiful souls taken too soon 😩” and “My heart goes out to them all!” Anger was visible in remarks questioning how the murders occurred or expressing frustration with aspects of the legal process. Notably, fear focused on the events of the case rather than on users’ personal safety. No commenters mentioned changes in behavior or feelings of everyday risk. Instead, commenters expressed fear and anxiety on behalf of the victims and survivors, emphasizing the emotional weight of the situation rather than concerns about personal danger.

Confusion also appeared in comments attempting to understand survivor actions. Supportive and hopeful messages emerged during courtroom developments, while a small number of comments used humor to cope with tension. Statements such as “I thought that was Jake peralta [sic] for a second” reflected this response. These patterns show that TikTok allowed users to express grief, anger, fear, and uncertainty throughout the case.

Some comments combined empathy with moral evaluation, revealing tensions between understanding trauma and judging survivor actions. One user wrote, “She [Dylan Mortensen] probably never imagined that would happen. That’s why she probably went to sleep,” showing an effort to reconcile shock and empathy. Another remarked, “memories like these makes u have sm regrets thinking u could’ve done sth to help,” which indicated that emotional and ethical reflection happened simultaneously.

Other comments demonstrated more critical reasoning alongside empathy. For example, one user wrote, “While her trauma seems clearly genuine, I just can’t understand why she didn’t call 911. I mean even 8 hours later she didn’t call 911.” This highlights contradictions in user engagement, as viewers attempted to understand trauma while also evaluating responsibility.

These examples illustrate that TikTok functioned as a space for managing complex emotional, ethical, and cognitive responses. Users balanced empathy, moral judgment, and reasoning rather than reacting solely emotionally. Grief, anger, fear, confusion, humor, and moral evaluation interacted, reflecting a dynamic process of emotional engagement, information-seeking, and collective sensemaking.

Narrative Construction, Justice-Oriented Messages, and Safety Advocacy (RQ3)

The third research question examined how TikTok users shared stories, constructed narratives, and promoted justice or safety. Users frequently tried to interpret the crime and its details.

Several comments attempted to reconstruct the timeline or explain inconsistencies. Statements such as “I think he had someone with him to help” or comments like “Doesn’t make sense she heard her friend screaming saying someone’s in the house and the girl goes in her room and goes back to bed” highlighted efforts to fill informational gaps. Justice-oriented messages were common, with comments expressing frustration with sentencing decisions, emphasizing accountability, or reflecting sympathy for the victims’ families. Remarks such as “He needs to get life in prison” exemplified these themes.

Safety advocacy appeared in a smaller subset of comments and was directed more toward emotional and ethical protection than personal safety. Many comments focused on discouraging misinformation and defending survivors instead of offering direct safety advice. Ethical concerns also emerged in response to the release of sensitive evidence. Some comments expressed discomfort about the public availability of certain materials and emphasized empathy for survivors. These patterns show how users relied on narrative interpretation, moral evaluation, and ethical reflection to make sense of the case.

Across these interactions, narrative construction frequently intersected with moral and ethical judgments. Users challenged misinformation, discouraged blaming survivors, and emphasized trauma-informed understanding. The comment “She’s lucky that night. Brian must be aware that she’s awake especially that she said she was calling their names” demonstrates how users reasoned through the sequence of events. It also shows how they layered judgment and inference in making sense of the situation.

Another comment stated, “If y’all heard your friends being murdered your first reaction would not be to leave your room and see what’s going on the fact people are STILL judging these girls is insane they were terrified.” This further highlights users’ efforts to defend survivors while interpreting their actions under extreme stress. These comments show how users actively work to understand traumatic events and support those affected.

Speculative comments about survivor behavior were often met with corrective remarks, reflecting collective sensemaking as users negotiated information, emotion, and ethical concern. Together, these trends illustrate TikTok as a forum where users actively interpret events. This dialogue balances narrative reconstruction, moral judgment, and ethical reflection.

Changes in Commentary Across Key Case Events (RQ4)

Commentary shifted noticeably across the arraignment, trial start, sentencing, and evidence release. During the arraignment, users expressed shock, grief, and confusion while trying to make sense of limited information. Early reactions included speculation about potential suspects and uncertainty surrounding survivor actions. Rumor-based speculation was most frequent during this phase, as users attempted to fill informational gaps.

As the trial began, the focus of user commentary shifted toward legal and procedural evaluation. Many comments addressed the judge’s tone, speaking patterns, and courtroom management. Others questioned the defense strategy or interpreted the suspect’s demeanor. Emotional responses remained present, but legal analysis became more prominent as users reacted to structured courtroom proceedings rather than breaking news.

Sentencing generated more morally charged reactions. Users concentrated on accountability, expressing frustration that the suspect appeared to show no remorse. Comments questioned whether the sentence was adequate. They also raised concerns about the financial penalties imposed, particularly the disparity between the amount owed to the state and the amount directed to the victims’ families. These reactions reflected strong public expectations for justice and closure for the victims’ families.

The release of evidence marked another shift, intensifying emotional reactions across comments. Users debated the ethics of releasing sensitive materials and expressed renewed confusion about survivor behavior. Empathy surfaced in many remarks, while fear reemerged as graphic details circulated more widely. Some earlier rumors resurfaced as users processed the new information. Overall, responses during the evidence release reflected heightened emotional engagement and renewed attempts to interpret the case.

These observations suggest that emotional uncertainty consistently shaped engagement and interpretation across stages of the case. Users’ efforts at narrative construction and moral judgment were especially evident during periods of limited information or newly released evidence, consistent with MSD Theory.

V. Discussion

The findings indicate that TikTok functioned as a dynamic environment for emotional expression, narrative construction, and collective sensemaking during the Idaho murder case. These patterns align with prior research on social media use during crises and illustrate how individuals rely on platforms such as TikTok for emotional regulation, interpretation of events, and community engagement. Overall, the findings support the principles of MSD Theory because they show that users turned to TikTok more frequently when emotional disruption and informational gaps were most pronounced.

A primary insight from the findings is the prominence of emotional expression across all four case stages. Users consistently conveyed grief, anger, fear, and empathy, reflecting a need to process distressing information collectively. This pattern mirrors prior research showing that social media users express strong emotional responses following violent incidents, including sadness, disgust, and concern for community members (Bowling et al., 2022). In this study, TikTok comment sections provided space for users to express emotions while responding to unfolding developments, reinforcing MSD Theory’s notion that people rely on media to regulate emotions during crises (Kim, 2020).

Narrative construction also played a central role in user engagement. Comments frequently attempted to interpret events, reconstruct timelines, or explain survivor behavior. These efforts reflect users’ attempts to reconcile uncertainty and limited knowledge, supporting research that shows individuals collaboratively generate narratives during crises to reduce ambiguity and anxiety (Lev-On, 2023). Importantly, many of these narratives avoided asserting false information, illustrating how sensemaking efforts can coexist with emotional expression without necessarily reflecting deceptive intent.

Misinformation and rumor-based speculation were most prevalent during the early stages of the case, particularly when official information was limited. These patterns align with prior research indicating that social media environments facilitate the rapid spread of unverified claims during breaking news events (Dobber & Hameleers, 2024). However, other users frequently challenged speculative or misleading comments, particularly when they involved blaming survivors or misinterpreting trauma responses. This corrective behavior reflects ethical regulation within online communities and aligns with prior findings that collective sensemaking can include efforts to protect others from emotional harm and restore interpretive balance (Foster et al., 2025).

The evolution of commentary across case stages further demonstrates how users’ emotional and informational needs shifted over time. Early stages were characterized by shock, confusion, and higher levels of speculation, while later stages emphasized procedural evaluation, moral judgment, and accountability. The release of evidence intensified emotional responses and revived ethical concerns, illustrating how renewed uncertainty can reactivate narrative construction and emotional engagement. These shifts reflect MSD Theory’s emphasis on changing media dependency as situational conditions evolve (Kim, 2020).

These findings highlight that TikTok serves both as a space for emotional support and as a place where users navigate interpretive risks. While the platform fostered collective sensemaking and community connection, it also enabled the spread of speculation and misinformation during uncertain periods. Understanding was not determined by TikTok alone. Users engaged with the platform to express emotions, tell stories, and share interpretations. This study examines emotional responses, narrative construction, misinformation, corrective dialogue, and justice-oriented advocacy. In combination, these elements demonstrate how TikTok users collectively negotiate meaning, morality, and emotion in response to violent events.

While these insights provide a meaningful understanding of user engagement and collective sensemaking, several limitations should be acknowledged. The study analyzed the top 20 comments from four TikTok videos, which may have excluded less visible viewpoints. TikTok’s algorithm highlights comments based on engagement, so the sample reflects only the most prominent narratives. Consequently, the findings represent widely circulated interpretations rather than the full range of user responses. The relatively small, purposive sample of 80 comments also limits the generalizability of the findings to the broader TikTok audience. Therefore, results should be interpreted as representative of dominant themes rather than a comprehensive account of all perspectives present on the platform.

VI. Conclusion

This study examined how TikTok users responded to the Idaho college student murders and how their comments reflected emotional expression, narrative construction, misinformation, justice-oriented messaging, and safety advocacy. Analysis revealed recurring patterns across 80 comments collected from videos associated with major case developments. Users expressed grief, fear, anger, and empathy. They also constructed narratives, challenged misinformation, advocated for justice, and debated ethical concerns. TikTok offers opportunities for emotional reflection, shared interpretation, and public dialogue, providing insights that can guide platform design, crisis communication, and educational strategies.

Emotional responses were central to user engagement, confirming prior research that social media often functions as a space for expressing emotions during crises. Users attempted to interpret the incident through narrative construction and moral evaluation. These patterns show how social media communities rely on shared storytelling when processing traumatic events. Misinformation and corrective dialogue appear simultaneously, reflecting broader challenges related to accuracy and credibility in digital environments. The evolution of commentary over time also revealed how TikTok users adjusted their interpretations in response to new case developments.

TikTok users collaboratively made sense of the case, expressing emotions and weighing ethical considerations. Lessons from these interactions can help platforms improve social media participation and understanding during crises. They can also guide crisis communicators and educators in supporting online audiences during critical events.

Platforms can use these insights to enhance user experience and safety by promoting verified information and flagging comments that spread speculation or misinformation. Providing context for sensitive content can further prevent misinterpretation and reduce confusion. Crisis communicators should monitor comment sections as real-time indicators of public confusion and emotional stress. This enables rapid correction of misinformation, provision of ethical guidance, and timely responses to emerging concerns.

Educators are encouraged to design exercises examining widely viewed comments and the narratives users construct. These activities help students critically evaluate information, understand emotional and moral responses, and engage responsibly with social media content. Such strategies allow platforms, communicators, and educators to reduce misinformation and support emotional processing, while also fostering informed, ethical participation in online discussions during crises. Applied to TikTok and similar platforms, these approaches foster safer, more informed engagement during high-profile or sensitive events.

Future research could expand the dataset by incorporating a larger number of TikTok videos or sampling comments from a wider range of content surfaced by the platform’s recommendation system to capture more varied user perspectives. Comparative studies could also examine whether reactions to the Idaho case resemble responses to other high-profile crimes. Additional research may explore how platform design, algorithmic visibility, and comment ranking influence which narratives gain traction. These directions would deepen understanding of how social media guides emotional and informational responses during crises.

Acknowledgements

I am deeply grateful to Professor Daniel Haygood for his guidance and support throughout the development of this project. His encouragement, clear feedback, and willingness to help at every step made this project both meaningful and possible. I also want to thank my parents for always supporting me, encouraging my curiosity, and inspiring my love of learning. Their belief in me and constant encouragement carried me through this entire process. Finally, I am thankful to Harlen Makemson and the other faculty reviewers for giving me the opportunity to publish my work and for their thoughtful feedback.

References

Altheide, D. L., & Schneider, C. J. (2013). Qualitative media analysis (2nd ed.). Sage Publications.

Ball-Rokeach, S. J. (1985). The origins of individual media-system dependency. Communication Research, 12(4), 485–510. https://doi.org/10.1177/009365085012004003

Ball-Rokeach, S. J. (1998). A theory of media power and a theory of media use: Different stories, questions, and ways of thinking. Mass Communication and Society, 1(1–2), 5–40. https://doi.org/10.1080/15205436.1998.9676398

Barone, J. L. (2019). Making sense of a celebrity suicide: Qualitative analysis of high-engagement tweets following the suicide of Anthony Bourdain. Elon Journal of Undergraduate Research in Communications, 10(1), 15–26. https://eloncdn.blob.core.windows.net/eu3/sites/153/2019/05/02_Barone.pdf

Bowling, J., Montanaro, E., Ordonez, S. G., McCabe, S., Farris, S., Saint-Cyr, N., Glaser, W., Cramer, R. J., Langhinrichsen-Rohling, J., & Mennicke, A. (2022). Coming together in a digital age: Community Twitter responses in the wake of a campus shooting. PLoS ONE, 17(12), 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0279569

Bullard, E. (2024). Purposive sampling. EBSCO Knowledge Advantage. https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/social-sciences-and-humanities/purposive-sampling

Coduto, K. D. (2025). Compulsive use of social media in emerging crime news stories: Perceived channel affordances and forensic fandom. Psychology of Popular Media, 14(4), 593–602. https://doi.org/10.1037/ppm0000603

Dobber, T., & Hameleers, M. (2024). The social media comment section as an unruly public arena: How comment reading erodes trust in news media. Electronic News, 19(1), 3–18. https://doi.org/10.1177/19312431241268011

Dye, T. (2025, February 20). Qualitative data analysis: Step-by-step guide (manual vs. automatic). Thematic. https://getthematic.com/insights/qualitative-data-analysis#

Foster, W. M., Coraiola, D. M., & Bastien, F. (2025). Repairing ontological security: The collective sensemaking of affective stakeholders in online communities. Human Relations. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1177/00187267251344775

Kim, Y.-C. (2020). Media system dependency theory. In J. Van den Bulck, D. R. Ewoldsen, M.-L. Mares, & E. Scharrer (Eds.), The international encyclopedia of media psychology (pp. 1–17). John Wiley & Sons. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781119011071.iemp0135

Lev-On, A. (2023). Making sense of murder: Characterizing stories in social media groups. Media, Culture & Society, 45(8), 1708–1719. https://doi.org/10.1177/01634437231202151

Miller, S. P. (2024). Thematic analysis. EBSCO Knowledge Advantage. https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/social-sciences-and-humanities/thematic-analysis

Mulcahy, R., Barnes, R., de Villiers Scheepers, R., Kay, S., & List, E. (2024). Going viral: Sharing of misinformation by social media influencers. Australasian Marketing Journal, 33(3), 296–309. https://doi.org/10.1177/14413582241273987

Sanders, P. (2025). Protecting the presumption of innocence: TikTok detectives, misinformation, and private content moderation. Utah Law Review, 2025(2), 507–527. https://doi.org/10.63140/0exv9_-l77

Shapiro, E. (2025, September 5). Idaho college murders: Here’s the full timeline of events surrounding Bryan Kohberger’s killings. ABC News. https://abcnews.go.com/US/idaho-college-murders-timeline-events/story?id=93575278

Wang, Y. (2024). The impact of violent social media content on human behaviour. Lecture Notes in Education Psychology and Public Media, 42, 152–158. https://doi.org/10.54254/2753-7048/42/20240789