Indianapolis gun violence exacerbated through teens’ use of social media, analysis finds

Indianapolis law enforcement has noted a deadly trend where Facebook, Snapchat and Instagram have enabled or contributed toward deadly gun violence among teens.

“Since 2018, over one-third of the gun homicides involving Indianapolis youth for which prosecutors have brought murder charges have featured social media in some form,” write Chalkbeat and Axios journalists. “Teenagers use Facebook to set up drug deals that turn into robberies gone wrong. Trash talking that starts on Snapchat ends in gunfire. Police search Instagram messages and videos for clues.”

Since 2020, nearly 200 people ages 19 and under have been shot and killed in Indianapolis – with 21 deaths so far in 2025, according to the news article.

“The algorithm of platforms like Instagram can feed vulnerable youth a fake reality in which violence is the norm, students and experts say. It can also amplify pre-existing drama between students before an audience of their peers both during and outside of school hours. And it can make communication between teenagers — whether to meet up to trade a gun or buy marijuana — instantaneous and discreet.”

‘A level of anger that [wasn’t] there before’

Younger generations tend to use social media not only for entertainment, but also for direct communication “in place of a classmate’s direct phone number, which can feel too personal,” journalists note.

However, this can lead to extremely public posts circulating quickly throughout an entire classroom and school.

“Vague notes left on Instagram stories might be a ‘sneak diss’ — an insult that does not directly name the target,” the news article explains. “Students fight through posts on their Instagram stories by screenshotting their aggressor’s post and writing their reply over it so that everyone can see.”

As a result, social media has often been linked to worse mental health among U.S. students – including higher incidents of cyberbullying, depression and suicide.

“It’s one thing for someone to be rude to you,” Noa Kaufman-Nichols, a Shortridge High School graduate, told reporters. “But for someone to be rude to you in front of hundreds of people and possibly more if you have a public account, I think that adds a level of anger that [wasn’t] there before.”

Paul Boxer, professor of psychology at Rutgers, blamed social media algorithms for emphasizing aggressive, controversial content to hold youths’ attention.

“It’s making them believe the world is a violent place and suspect guns are a good way to solve problems,” said Boxer, who also co-edited The Future of Youth Violence Prevention: A Mixtape for Practice, Policy, and Research.

Southport High School graduate Ariyah Mitchell agrees, noting social media can normalize user references to guns and drugs as part of everyday life.

“It turns into something you see every day, basically,” she said. “It influences you to be like these people.”