Shadows in the Feed: Demonic Influences, Digital Demons, and the Tragic Fall of Charlie Kirk

In the wake of the shocking assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk on September 10, 2025, at Utah Valley University, a wave of grief, outrage, and introspection has swept across the United States. Kirk, the 31-year-old founder of Turning Point USA and a vocal ally of former President Donald Trump, was fatally shot in the neck by a sniper's bullet during a campus event attended by thousands. The suspect, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson from Washington, Utah, has been charged with aggravated murder, obstruction of justice, and other felonies, with prosecutors vowing to seek the death penalty. Robinson's alleged motive? A text to his roommate confessing, "I had enough of his hatred," scrawled on a note that read, "Well I had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk and I’m going to take it."

As vigils honor Kirk's legacy and politicians from both sides decry political violence, a darker conversation is bubbling up online and in public discourse: Is there something more sinister at play? Many are pointing to a perceived "demonic influence" permeating American society, exacerbated by the rise of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and the unchecked toxicity of social media. While not everyone subscribes to literal supernatural explanations, the parallels between modern societal ills—ugly posts, rising violence, and mental health crises—and ancient notions of spiritual corruption are hard to ignore. In this article, we explore these threads, weaving together recent events, scientific insights, and cultural commentary to ask: Is America under a demonic spell, or is this the inevitable fallout of a fractured digital age?

The Assassination: A Catalyst for National Reckoning

Charlie Kirk's death wasn't just a loss for conservative circles; it exposed raw nerves in a polarized nation. The shooting, captured in viral video clips, showed Kirk collapsing mid-speech, sparking immediate fears of escalating political terrorism. In the first half of 2025 alone, the U.S. saw over 520 plots of targeted violence, resulting in 96 deaths and 329 injuries—a 187.5% increase in mass casualty attacks compared to the previous year. Robinson, described as a young man with no prior criminal record but apparent deep-seated resentment toward Kirk's rhetoric, turned himself in after his mother identified him from FBI photos.

Social media erupted with tributes, conspiracy theories, and outright vitriol. Posts mourning Kirk's death garnered millions of views, while others mocked it in disturbing displays of cruelty. At a memorial event at Texas State University, a student imitated Kirk's death and spat near attendees, an act decried as "disgusting, demonic behavior."

Vice President JD Vance, hosting "The Charlie Kirk Show" in Kirk's honor, blamed a "growing and powerful minority on the far left," while some public officials used the tragedy to threaten liberal groups with claims of a "domestic terror" movement. Democrats, including Governor Gavin Newsom, urged unity, warning against using the event to "dismantle our democracy."

This isn't isolated. Social media has become a breeding ground for the "ugliest things," as one observer noted—posts that normalize hatred, glorify violence, and erode empathy. But could this toxicity be more than human failing? Enter the chorus calling it demonic.

The Rise of SSRIs: Pharmaceuticals as Portals?

Since the 1990s, SSRIs like Prozac, Zoloft, and Celexa have revolutionized mental health treatment, prescribed to millions for depression, anxiety, and beyond. By 2025, usage has skyrocketed, with 9% of youth and 20% of adults on psychiatric medications. Yet, amid this boom, concerns about side effects—particularly violence—have grown, fueled by high-profile cases and online speculation.

Studies show a correlation between SSRI use and increased aggression or homicide in some individuals, especially those with pre-existing violent histories or low serotonin levels associated with depression. Graphs of mass shootings align eerily with the rise in SSRI prescriptions, stimulants, and benzodiazepines, prompting questions about causation. Critics like Robert F. Kennedy Jr. have called for investigations into whether these drugs contribute to events like school shootings or, potentially, targeted assassinations.

From a spiritual lens, some view SSRIs as "portals" for demonic influence. Catholic commentators and others argue that altering brain chemistry—much like psychedelics or illicit drugs—opens doors to supernatural entities, echoing historical warnings about substances in pagan rituals.

One X user posited, "The drugging has been the implementation of demonic forces. When your mind is in an alternate state, you are much more prone to demonic possession."

Research on antidepressants via social media analysis even links them to post-treatment increases in negative affect and psychopathological symptoms like anxiety and suicidal ideation, though effects vary by drug family.

Skeptics counter that correlation isn't causation; violence rates have actually declined despite rising prescriptions, and untreated mental illness poses greater risks. Still, the premise persists, amplified by figures like Marjorie Taylor Greene and Tucker Carlson, who blame SSRIs for mass violence. In Robinson's case, while no direct SSRI link has been reported, his alleged confession hints at a mind unhinged by hatred—possibly fueled by broader societal pressures, including medication trends.

Social Media: The Digital Demon's Playground

If SSRIs alter the mind chemically, social media does so psychologically and socially. Platforms like X, (formerly Twitter) Facebook, Instagram, and others have transformed into echo chambers of rage, where exposure to substance-related content influences attitudes and behaviors toward drugs and violence. A Stanford study likens excessive use to drug addiction, triggering dopamine floods akin to heroin or meth, fostering compulsive overconsumption and risky decision-making.

Drug dealers exploit these spaces, advertising fentanyl-laced counterfeit pills to teens, contributing to a surge in adolescent overdoses—many tied to social media purchases.

Broader content—promoting alcohol, cannabis, or even psychiatric meds—shapes norms, with higher exposure linked to lower perceived dangers and increased use.

Spiritually inclined voices see this as demonic warfare. One post warns, "Demons wield influence over telecommunication, internet discourse... The internet is one of their favorite means to that end," urging awareness that engagement leading to depression or anger signals demonic success.

Others describe social media as amplifying "mass demonic possession," turning users into "zombies and homicidal demons" disconnected from their authentic selves. Psychedelics like DMT, often glorified online, are portals to entities demanding sacrifice, per some users.

In Kirk's murder, social media's role is evident: Rhetoric labeling conservatives "fascists" may have radicalized Robinson, as highlighted in a viral video compiling Democratic statements. Posts celebrating or mocking the killing underscore how platforms normalize the demonic—hatred without consequence.

Demonic Influence: Literal or Metaphor?

The idea of demonic forces isn't new; it echoes the 1980s Satanic Panic, where fears of ritual abuse gripped the U.S., often tied to cultural shifts and media hype.

Today, it's resurfacing amid rising drug use, political violence, and digital isolation. Some, like researcher Brian Cates, suggest a "Luciferian cult" has long infiltrated society, using drugs for mind control. Others, drawing from Christian theology, view mental issues as spiritual, with substances and screens as entry points.

Critics argue this demonizes necessary treatments; antidepressants save lives, and social media connects as much as it divides. Yet, the convergence—SSRIs correlating with violence, social media fueling addiction and hate, and tragedies like Kirk's—feels eerily close to "demonic" for many.

A Call to Light in the Darkness

Charlie Kirk's murder isn't just a crime; it's a symptom of deeper rot. Whether you see demons in the code or the chemistry, the ugliness is real. To combat it, we need regulation on social media content, scrutiny of pharmaceutical overreach, and a return to empathy over algorithms. As Kirk's widow urged students to carry on his work, perhaps the antidote is human connection—unfiltered by screens or scripts.

In a nation haunted by its own shadows, acknowledging the "demonic" might be the first step toward exorcising it. For WecuMedia readers, the question remains: Are we possessed, or just profoundly lost?