Unfounded accusations lead innocents to hide as online theories multiply
In the small town of Moscow, Idaho, the murder of four university students in November 2022 has not only left the community in mourning but also spotlighted a worrying trend of social media speculation run amok. The students, tragically stabbed in their home, became the centre of a viral storm on TikTok, where armchair detectives launched a slew of accusations against individuals with no ties to the crime.
Despite Bryan Kohberger being the sole official suspect, the online world has been rife with theories implicating everyone from the victims’ roommates to local business owners. One individual, merely seen near the victims hours before their death, found himself and his family subjected to threats after his personal details were widely shared online. His sister’s plea for sanity on TikTok underscores the real-world impact of such unfounded claims.
The online frenzy has extended to University of Idaho lecturer Rebecca Scofield, who faced accusations of involvement in the crime. In response, Scofield is now pursuing legal action for defamation against one of her accusers, highlighting the severe consequences of online speculation.
The BBC’s Zara McDermott explores this digital witch hunt in the documentary The Idaho Murders: Trial By TikTok, examining the harm inflicted on innocent parties by viral conspiracy theories. Her investigation into the culture of “truth-seeking sleuths” reveals a troubling disregard for the principles of justice, with some online figures admitting to a “guilty until proven innocent” approach to their accusations.
This phenomenon has forced several wrongly accused individuals to seek refuge from the harassment, as the documentary details the adverse effects of such baseless allegations on their lives. As the case against Kohberger moves forward, with him pleading not guilty to the charges, the documentary serves as a poignant reminder of the destructive power of online speculation and the need for responsible content sharing on social media platforms
