University Shooting Threats on Social Media: How Content of Threat Affects Recognition, Threat Appraisal, and Willingness for Peers to Intervene

Threat-related content on social media, including university shooting threats, can precede acts of violence. However, little is known about how well digital bystanders recognize and respond to such posts. Across two studies, college students’ recognition of and reported willingness to intervene with university shooting threats on a social media platform were assessed. In Study 1, participants (N = 709) viewed randomized mock X feeds containing manipulated posts and were assessed on recognition ability. Participants correctly recognized most (81.28%) university shooting-related posts. Recognition was significantly higher when posts included firearm images (OR = 1.93, p < .001), suggesting visual cues enhance threat recognition. In Study 2, participants (N = 722) rated the perceived threat and their likelihood of intervention to mock X posts varying by photo inclusion, language explicitness, and temporal proximity. Threat appraisals were highest for posts with explicit language, firearm images, and imminent temporal proximity. Participants were more likely to report threats to third parties (e.g. authorities) than to intervene directly. Willingness to intervene was highest when explicit language and firearm images were present, even for less imminent threats. Findings suggest that unreported shooting threats on social media may not be due to the ambiguity of the message but instead structural or social barriers that interfere with bystanders’ paths from recognition to reporting. This emphasizes that effective threat prevention programs must not only provide individuals with appropriate resources for reporting threats, but also foster supportive climates that minimize social risks, clarify reporting expectations, and aim for equitable responses.