On December 13, during a shooting incident at Brown University, students used the anonymous app Sidechat to share their immediate reactions, emotions, and experiences as the event unfolded. The app became a digital space where users documented fear, confusion, and grief in real time, often posting updates before the university issued official alerts. This spontaneous flow of information highlighted both the urgency and chaos felt by those on campus. Sidechat’s anonymous nature allowed students to express raw emotions and share firsthand accounts without delay, creating a chaotic but vital record of the incident from the perspective of those directly affected. The use of such platforms underscores how social media and anonymous apps are increasingly becoming primary sources of information during crises, sometimes outpacing traditional communication channels. The Brown shooting and the response on Sidechat reveal the complex dynamics of digital communication in emergency situations, illustrating both the power and challenges of real-time, user-generated content during moments of crisis.