TikTok is trying to remove graphic videos circulating the app that shows a man shooting himself with a gun, and banning accounts from people who are re-uploading the clip.
33-year-old Ronnie McNutt streamed the last moments of his life on Facebook Live and that video is now circulating across the TikTok social media platform.
Ronnie McNutt
Parents be aware, because the video is incredibly graphic and it’s being hidden within ‘innocent‘ videos on TikTok – tricking children into seeing the graphic video.
In the video, McNutt was speaking with his girlfriend on the phone – it would appear she was breaking up with him after he lost his job. Within seconds of the phone call ending, McNutt shot himself in the face with a shotgun – on live video.
This is a video that no child should ever see.
TikTok says the clip was originally streamed on Facebook and has appeared on other apps. As the TikTok community became aware of the clip, many creators started posting videos warning their followers to look out for an image — a man sitting in front of his desk with a grey beard — and swipe away from the video.
Other creators spoke about the most disturbing part of the video being hidden inside more innocuous looking TikToks. A TikTok representative confirmed to The Verge that “clips of a suicide” started circulating on Sunday night.
“Our systems have been automatically detecting and flagging these clips for violating our policies against content that displays, praises, glorifies, or promotes suicide,” the spokesperson said. “We are banning accounts that repeatedly try to upload clips, and we appreciate our community members who’ve reported content and warned others against watching, engaging, or sharing such videos on any platform out of respect for the person and their family.”
“If anyone in our community is struggling with thoughts of suicide or concerned about someone who is, we encourage them to seek support, and we provide access to hotlines directly from our app and in our Safety Center,” the spokesperson said.