Trigger Warning: This article contains descriptions of violence and assault.
In June 2023, a horrifying video began circulating on Twitter and other social media platforms. The footage, which came to be known as the "boiling water girl video," showed a young woman pouring a kettle of scalding water onto another young woman who was crouched on the floor and desperately trying to shield herself with a blanket. The video quickly went viral, sparking outrage and calls for justice online.
While the original video has since been removed from most major platforms for violating policies around graphic violence, the impact of this disturbing incident continues to reverberate. The boiling water attack shines a harsh light on the pervasive issue of violence against women and the role that social media plays in amplifying and normalizing abusive content.
In this article, we‘ll take an unflinching look at the boiling water attack video, its aftermath, and what it reveals about the state of online discourse today. We‘ll examine the very real harm that sharing violent content can cause and explore what we can do to build safer, more accountable online spaces for all.
Trigger Warning: Details of the Boiling Water Attack Video
The 30-second video at the center of this case appears to have originally been posted to Snapchat before being screen-recorded and shared on Twitter. It depicts a young Black woman pouring a kettle of boiling water onto another young Black woman who is crouched on the floor in a defensive position, using a blanket to try to protect herself from the scalding liquid.
The attacker can also be seen holding a knife and threatening the victim, who cowers in fear. While the blanket absorbed much of the water, protecting the victim from life-threatening burns, the terror and anguish on her face is evident.
After being reposted by user @MaaiNilson, the video racked up over 6 million views on Twitter within just a few days in June 2023. The brutality of the attack and the fact that it was captured on camera and shared online sparked immediate backlash. Thousands of Twitter users tagged the London Metropolitan Police, demanding that the attacker be identified and face consequences. The police later confirmed that they had launched an investigation into the incident.
The Dangers of Boiling Water Attacks
Medical experts caution that an attack with boiling water, which reaches temperatures of 100°C/212°F, can cause severe and potentially life-altering injuries. Dr. Imran Rahman, a consultant plastic surgeon who specializes in burn reconstruction, explains:
"Boiling water can cause significant scald burns. The longer the exposure, the more severe the injury. Depending on the duration of contact, boiling water burns can range from superficial redness to full thickness burns affecting all layers of the skin."
Boiling water burns can be as damaging as acid attacks, causing extreme pain, blistering, and potentially permanent scarring or disfigurement. Scalding injuries may require skin grafts, reconstructive surgeries, and extensive rehabilitation. The physical and psychological trauma of such an attack can last a lifetime.
Violence Against Women on Social Media
Sadly, the boiling water attack video is just one example of how violence against women proliferates on social media, even as platforms struggle to effectively moderate harmful content. A 2020 report from Plan International found that more than half of girls and young women worldwide have experienced online harassment and abuse. One in five said they felt physically unsafe as a result.
Amnesty International has called online abuse "a human rights issue," noting that it disproportionately impacts women from marginalized communities, including Black women. Racist and misogynistic harassment, threats, and sharing of non-consensual imagery are rampant across major platforms.
While most social networks have policies prohibiting graphic violence and abuse, enforcement is often inadequate and reactive rather than proactive. By the time harmful content is flagged and taken down, it may have already reached a massive audience and inflicted significant trauma.
The Psychology of Sharing Violent Content
What drives someone not only to commit an act of cruelty, but also to share video footage boasting about it online? Dr. Mary Aiken, a cyberpsychologist and author of The Cyber Effect, says there are several psychological factors at play.
"Recording oneself in the commission of a violent crime indicates a lack of empathy for the victim. Sharing that recording on social media reveals a dysfunctional need for validation and a grandiose sense of self," Aiken explains. "There‘s an element of performativity, of wanting to be seen."
She notes that this type of narcissistic, antisocial behavior may be exacerbated by the anonymity and distance that digital spaces can provide. "In cyberspace, people feel disinhibited. They do and say things they would never do in the physical world, for better and for worse."
However, Aiken cautions against the idea that viewing violence online directly translates to offline aggression for most people. "The vast majority of individuals who see these kinds of videos don‘t go on to commit violent acts. But repeated exposure to graphic content can lead to desensitization, increased aggression, and decreased empathy over time."
Building Safer Online Spaces
So what can be done to prevent disturbing content like the boiling water attack video from spreading online in the first place? Experts say platforms must prioritize proactive content moderation using a combination of automated detection tools and human review. Clearer, more consistent policies around prohibited content are also critical.
"It‘s not enough for social media companies to simply react to harmful content after it‘s already gone viral," says Seyi Akiwowo, founder of Glitch, a UK-based nonprofit working to end online abuse. "Platforms must take responsibility for what they amplify and actively work to center safety in their algorithms and community guidelines."
This work requires investing in human moderators with subject matter expertise who can understand the nuances and context of potentially abusive posts. It also means providing adequate mental health support for content moderators, who are frequently exposed to disturbing imagery.
As digital citizens, we all have a role to play in building safer, more inclusive online communities. Before sharing something online, pause and reflect:
- Is it true? Misinformation spreads like wildfire online. Verify before amplifying.
- Is it necessary? Will sharing this content help inform or educate or are you unintentionally rewarding bad behavior with attention?
- Is it kind? Resist the urge to pile on or share content that makes light of someone else‘s trauma.
If you do come across abusive content, don‘t engage. Report it through official platform channels so it can be appropriately actioned. If you suspect you‘re witnessing an emergency situation, contact local authorities rather than intervening directly.
Supporting Survivors of Violence
Incidents like the boiling water attack underscore just how pervasive violence against women remains, both on and offline. If you are a victim of domestic abuse or violent crime, know that you are not alone and support is available.
In the UK, the 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline offers free, confidential support by phone, text, and web chat at 0808 2000 247. In the US, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline 24/7 at 1-800-799-7233. Most countries have dedicated victim support organizations that can help you establish a safety plan, access healthcare and legal aid, and more.
Key Takeaways
The boiling water attack video is a disturbing reminder of how social media can be weaponized to spread real-world violence and cause lasting trauma for victims and viewers alike. While the universal backlash to the footage offers some hope that such cruelty will never be normalized, we must actively work to build online spaces that demonetize abuse and uplift our shared humanity.
Tech platforms play a critical role in shaping online discourse through their content moderation policies and algorithms. But individual users also have agency in choosing what content to engage with and amplify. By exercising empathy, pausing before posting, and speaking out against harassment, we can all help create a safer internet for everyone.
Ultimately, ending violence against women, online and off, requires major systemic and cultural change. We must hold abusers accountable, challenge misogyny wherever we encounter it, and dismantle the power structures that enable gendered violence to persist. Most importantly, we must center and listen to the voices of survivors as we work to build a more just and equitable world.
If you or someone you know is experiencing abuse, you don‘t have to weather it alone. Reach out for help today. A safer, kinder future is possible if we commit to creating it together.
