The True Crime Community: The Online Subculture Putting Kids at Risk

True crime as a genre is hotter than ever. (SSDGM; IYKYK.) But indulging in podcasts, documentaries, and books shouldn’t be confused with the True Crime Community (TCC), a dangerous internet subculture frequented by kids that glorifies mass shooters. Here’s everything you need to know about TCC, including warning signs your child is involved and what you can do to protect them from its influence. 

What is TCC?

TCC is a decentralized online community fascinated with violence and mass shootings. Members create and share works glorifying real-world acts of violence, including fan art, fan fiction, and stylized videos and photos elevating perpetrators. They also share videos capturing violent acts and disseminate perpetrators’ manifestos and personal writings. 

Analysis by the Combating Terrorism Center (CTC) and the Center on Extremism have found that TCC followers skew concerningly young, with many teens and preteens actively participating.

Risks to kids from TCC

• Exposure to violent content. TCC members often gather on forums dedicated to sharing and viewing images of real-world violence such as murder, torture, suicide, and gruesome accidents. 
• Encouragement to commit violence. Many TCC followers reject committing real-world violence, but a small subset encourages emulation of these acts. According to the Anti-Defamation League, involvement in TCC has been linked to at least 23 violent attacks worldwide, including 17 which were deadly. 
• Dangerous parasocial relationships. The CTC explains that some TCC adherents deeply identify with specific perpetrators based on perceived similarities. According to the CTC, these relationships don’t guarantee violent behavior but can be a stepping stone toward such actions.
• Suicide. TCC culture promotes self-destructive acts, like “suicide by cop,” as a means for both escape and enduring notoriety. Involvement in TCC has been linked to at least one suicide. 

Where kids get involved with TCC

Because TCC isn’t one centralized website or forum, there are a number of places where kids can encounter it. 

Gaming platforms

Online gaming — particularly sandbox or open-play-style platforms, like Roblox or Garry’s Mod, that allow players to create and share content — are popular with TCC. In “TCC games,” real-world mass shootings are recreated. 

Gore forums 

Cody Zoschak, from the Institute for Strategic Dialogue, told NPR that gore forums like Documenting Reality and WatchPeopleDie are common pipelines to TCC for boys. 

Eating disorder forums 

According to Zoschak, girls are more likely to encounter TCC through online eating disorder communities.

Social media 

TCC is active on most social media platforms, but is most visible on TikTok, Discord, Pinterest, and Telegram. 

What makes kids susceptible to TCC

Because their brains aren’t fully formed and adolescence is a turbulent phase of development, kids are particularly vulnerable to the negative impact of graphic violence and extremism online. Certain factors can increase their susceptibility to falling into a community like TCC:

Interpersonal issues 

Struggles at home or at school can lead some kids to empathize with the outcast archetype of mass shooters. 

Mental health issues

Research identifies these mental health issues as common in perpetrators of school shootings, including those linked with TCC: depression, eating disorders, substance abuse, self-harm, social anxiety, suicidal ideation, and obsessive thoughts. 

Social struggles

TCC is known for embracing outcasts, and kids who are bullied or feel alienated from their peers may be drawn to the sense of belonging. 

Warning signs your child might be into TCC

• Use of related hashtags: #TCC, #teeceecee, #truecringecommunity.
• “Okay” gesture. Some TCC-affiliated school shooters have posted photos of themselves making the “okay” gesture right before the act, leading to the symbol being used for clout within the community (often without violent intent). 
• Emulating perpetrators of mass violence. TCC adherents often adopt the clothing style, interests, and musical tastes of mass shooters. 
• Use of related symbols. The military helmet emoji and misanthropic flag, logo, and definition are associated with more extreme corners of the TCC community.
• Usernames inspired by past attackers.  
• AI-generated videos of mass shooters. AI-generated videos of former shooters performing benign actions like putting on makeup or using water guns, or AI-generated photos of your child posing with shooters. 
• A fixation on violence, weapons, or school shootings. 
• Wearing a skull gaiter mask.
• Wearing shirts with these sayings: “wrath,” “natural selection,” “negative XP,” and “humanity is overrated.”

How to protect your child from TCC

Watch for warning signs 

Pay attention to your child’s behavior, both online and off. BrightCanary helps you monitor their online activity and sends real-time alerts to red flags, such as conversions about violence, concerning Google searches, and chats with new contacts. 

Help them find offline connection

Many kids find their way to TCC because they feel like they don’t fit in elsewhere; helping your child foster offline friendships can be protective. 

Open dialogue 

Ask questions and make it clear you are there to support your child no matter what. 

Build a support system 

If you’re concerned, enlist other trusted adults to help you support your child, and consider professional mental health support. 

Act immediately for imminent concerns

If you’re concerned your child is planning to hurt themselves or others, these free crisis resources can help:

• Violence Prevention Hotline: 888-664-6652
• Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988 (works on VPs) 

True Crime Community (TCC) is an online subculture that glorifies violence and mass shootings and counts many teens and preteens in its ranks. Involvement in TCC puts kids at risk of exposure to violent content, encouragement to commit violence, dangerous parasocial relationships, and suicide. 

To protect your child, monitor their online activity for warning signs, help them create offline connections, and take swift action if you spot concerns. 

Related posts:

Online Safety Legislation Gains Supporters, But Future Is Still Uncertain What Are Lawmakers Doing to Protect Kids Online? New Report From Kids Online Health and Safety Task Force Sets the Bar for Child Online Safety FTC Calls Child Protections “Woefully Inadequate”