As large-scale protests in France escalated into riots and looting, social media users began broadcasting violent scenes in real-time to attract followers. Some videos garnered tens of millions of views, while AI-generated fake images also circulated.
On October 19, French daily Le Monde reported that the protests and violence that erupted across the country over the weekend spread widely through platforms like TikTok and X (formerly Twitter).
On October 17, a massive protest took place in France against rising living costs and in support of high school students' demands for improved educational conditions. The French Interior Ministry estimated participation at 550,000, while organizers claimed 800,000 attended.
Most gatherings were peaceful, but clashes between police and protesters, along with looting and arson, occurred in cities such as Paris, Marseille, and Lyon.
During this time, social media became another battleground. Various scenes, from the protesters' marches to clashes with police and looting, were broadcast live.
Notably, TikTok saw dozens of live streams. Some teenage and young adult users continuously covered the protest scenes to increase their follower counts.
On the night of October 18, a young man filming an attempted looting near Place de la République told viewers, "Subscribe, or I’ll end the live stream. Then you won’t see what’s happening on the streets of Paris anymore."
Violent scenes attracted explosive interest on social media. A video shot by independent journalist Luc Offray showing police vehicles being pelted with stones near Place de la République received over 45 million views on X within 24 hours, not including views from reposted accounts.
In Limoges, individuals involved in the violence set fire to the town hall, causing the roof to collapse. This footage spread both within France and internationally, prompting comparisons to the 2019 Notre-Dame Cathedral fire.
Videos were also used in political debates. Some right-wing accounts in the U.S. shared violent scenes linking them to immigration issues, while leftist politicians in France circulated videos suggesting police overreach.
Amid the violent footage, manipulated images and videos also emerged. Posts depicting hundreds of tractors converging on Paris began circulating early on October 17. Photos of a protester in a pink leopard costume being hit by a police water cannon and an elderly couple undressing in Place de la République were both AI-generated fakes.
Interest from social media users in the violent scenes later shifted to the victims of looting and citizens involved in recovery efforts. A video showing the damaged store of a female owner at the comic book shop 'Momi Manga' in Grenoble received 150,000 likes on Instagram within a day.
In Nice, the owner of the video game store 'Micromania' was assaulted while trying to fend off looters. TikTok users praised his bravery, likening him to a character from the Japanese manga 'Dragon Ball.'
* This article has been translated by AI.
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