MSU Students Find Powerful Support System Through TikTok Post-shooting
Michigan State University (MSU) students are healing through TikTok after an active shooter killed three students and injured five more on February 13.
This lockdown forced students to sit and wait out the situation in fear. Some students crouched in a corner in silence for hours and listened to a police scanner.
Survivors have taken to TikTok to heal from the traumatic experience and protest against gun violence. Several students shared how difficult it was to go back to normal and worry about classes when their lives were in danger only a few days ago.
@olivia.young30 Survivors guilt is real, and so many are traumatized. Please check on your friends on campus #msu #msustrong ♬ original sound – <3
The TikTok algorithm allows people who would normally fly under the radar to show up on people’s feeds. This has provided a space for people to open up and connect about their emotions and reach a large audience.
MSU student, Karah Tanski, shared that TikTok gives her an outlet to connect with people who are still processing what happened and get more context on the incident.
The day after the shooting, Tanski took to TikTok to discuss her experience. She commented, “There was just complete chaos across campus.” Tanski elaborated that there were a lot of “false reports” such as the whereabouts of the shooter and the sheer panic each student had to go through that day was immense.
@nocapkarah late night thoughts from East Lansing 😔 hug the people you love #msu #spartanstrong #michiganstate #RA #feb13th #enoughisenough ♬ original sound – karah🌻
Jackie Matthews was a student in Newtown, Connecticut during the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in 2012. On February 13, she lived through a second school shooting. “The fact that this is the second mass shooting I have lived through is incomprehensible,” she voiced.
@inlessthan30news Think about this…This 21 year old young woman has survived TWO mass shootings in her life. We as a country have allowed this to happen to her and countless others time and time again. The politicians should be ashamed!! PASS SAFER GUN LEGISLATION NOW!!!!!! #msu #msustrong #sandyhook #sandyhookstrong #gunviolence #gunlaws #gunlegislation ♬ Ambient-style emotional piano – MoppySound
This shooting was not a stand-alone incident this year. There have already been 71 mass shootings this year alone, and Gen Z is exhausted.
Gen Z has turned to activism to speak out against gun violence after living through too many traumatic mass shootings. MSU students protested at the State Capitol on February 15 against guns, calling on lawmakers to create a legislature to prevent these events from happening again.
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