A shocking video showing the decapitated head of a Pennsylvania man circulated on YouTube for several hours, raising concerns about the platform’s ability to swiftly remove disturbing content. The video, which lasted 14 minutes and featured Justin Mohn, 32, charged with first-degree murder and abusing a corpse, drew attention to the gaps in social media companies’ moderation practices.
This incident coincided with the CEOs of Meta, TikTok, and other social media companies testifying before federal lawmakers who were frustrated with the perceived lack of progress in ensuring child safety online. YouTube, one of the most popular platforms among teenagers, notably did not attend the hearing.
Unfortunately, this graphic video is not an isolated case. In recent years, social media platforms have broadcasted other horrific clips, including livestreams of domestic mass shootings and violent acts from various parts of the world.
Middletown Township Police Capt. Pete Feeney revealed that the video was posted at around 10 p.m. on Tuesday and remained online for approximately five hours. Such delays in content takedown raise questions about the effectiveness of social media platforms in moderating and preventing the spread of violent and inappropriate material.
Alix Fraser, director of the Council for Responsible Social Media at the nonprofit advocacy organization Issue One, criticized the social media companies, stating, “It’s another example of the blatant failure of these companies to protect us. We can’t trust them to grade their own homework.”
YouTube, owned by Google, promptly removed the video, deleted Mohn’s channel, and tracked down any potential re-uploads. The company employs a combination of artificial intelligence and human moderators to monitor its platform. However, YouTube did not respond to inquiries regarding how the video managed to stay online for several hours.
While major social media platforms use automated systems to moderate content, these technologies may fall short when faced with new or unusually violent and graphic videos. This is where human moderators play a crucial role. Although AI is improving, it is not yet fully competent in detecting and removing such content.
Approximately 40 minutes past midnight Eastern time on Wednesday, the Global Internet Forum to Counter Terrorism (GIFCT) alerted its members, including the platform where the video initially appeared, about the video’s presence. The group allows the platform to submit a digital fingerprint of the video, known as a “hash,” which is then shared with nearly two dozen other member companies to restrict its spread.
However, by Wednesday morning, the video had already made its way to another platform, X, where it remained for at least seven hours and accumulated 20,000 views. Despite the efforts of GIFCT, X, formerly known as Twitter, did not respond to requests for comment.
Experts studying radicalization emphasize that social media and the internet have made it easier for individuals to explore extremist groups and ideologies. This accessibility allows those predisposed to violence to find communities that reinforce their dangerous ideas.
In the video, Mohn expressed conspiracy theories and ranted against the government after the killing, further highlighting the dilemma faced by social platforms in moderating violent and extremist content. Although most platforms have policies against such material, the emergence of less closely monitored sites has enabled hateful ideas to spread unchecked.
Jacob Ware, a research fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, stresses the urgent need for social media companies to be more vigilant in regulating violent content. He asserts, “The reality is that social media has become a front line in extremism and terrorism. That’s going to require more serious and committed efforts to push back.”
Transparency and investment in trust and safety workers are among the reforms suggested by Nora Benavidez, senior counsel at the media advocacy group Free Press. She calls for greater clarity regarding the impact of layoffs on employees and increased resources for ensuring user safety.
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