From Courtroom to TikTok: New Alcatraz East Exhibit Explores How Social Media Is Changing Crime Coverage

The Alcatraz East Crime Museum is opening a new exhibit showcasing pop culture crime influencer Stephanie Giancristofaro

PIGEON FORGE, Tenn., Sept. 16, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Alcatraz East Crime Museum is opening a new exhibit showcasing TikTok's influence on modern crime reporting. The exhibit will feature Stephanie Giancristofaro, a criminal defense attorney who has become an influencer on TikTok with over 326,000 followers. This exhibit comes on the 10th anniversary of the popular app being used by an audience of all ages.

"There is a tremendous amount of information, and misinformation, surrounding high-profile criminal cases online," said Giancristofaro. "I use my platform to bring the conversation back to the facts: what the evidence actually shows, what the law actually says, and what is simply speculation. People are entitled to their own opinions, but those opinions should start with accurate information."

Giancristofaro started posting videos on TikTok after seeing that the public often struggles to understand the legalities involved in criminal cases. After the murder of four college students at the University of Idaho in 2022, she began making videos to help people gain a better understanding of the criminal defense process and laws regarding the case. People appreciated the videos because Giancristofaro helped clarify confusing information about the case they were seeing dominate the headlines.  This led her to continue with other cases so people could better understand the issues in terms they could easily grasp.

According to the Pew Research Center, 37% of adults in the U.S. report that they use TikTok, and that number continues to grow each year. They report that around 55% of adults who use the popular app regularly get their news from it, while 95% say they use it for entertainment purposes. Giancristofaro's videos get millions of views, showing how much interest people have in that type of content.

On September 20, 2026, TikTok celebrates its 10th anniversary. Originally launched as Douyin from a small apartment in China in 2016, it expanded internationally a year later. The popularity of the app was greatly boosted in 2018, when it merged with the app Musical.ly, which featured people lip-syncing to songs. TikTok has surged in popularity as people find that the algorithm excels in serving up content that is unique to each person's interest. It has become an outlet for influencers of all types to find their unique audience, including for those who are interested in crime news, criminal defense, and related issues.

"The new TikTok influencer exhibit is going to be a fascinating  addition to our pop culture section," said Ally Mills, artifacts and programs manager at Alcatraz East Crime Museum. "It's become a widely used platform and continues to grow in popularity. People are now using it to get information about criminal cases and more."

The museum features over 100 exhibits and interactives, as well as four temporary exhibit spaces, showcasing many famous items, including Al Capone's rosary, Ted Bundy's dental molds, and Charles Manson's acoustic guitar. This top museum is open daily at 10 am. The last tickets are sold 60 minutes before closing. These interactive experiences are available for an additional fee for birthday parties, school groups, scouts, team building, or other special events. To get a discounted rate for groups of 15 or more, complete the online form and allow up to 72 hours for confirmation. For more information about tickets, discounts, temporary exhibits, and all the museum has to offer, visit the website: https://www.alcatrazeast.com.

Alcatraz East Crime Museum has updated its board of crime experts, which includes Derwin Bradley, a retired master police officer; James R. Knight, a crime writer; Robin Maynard, a certified crime scene investigator in Florida; Derek Newport, a law enforcement veteran who worked for the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation for 20 years; and Judge Belvin Perry, Jr., who presided over the notorious case against Casey Anthony, among others.

About Alcatraz East
Alcatraz East is the most arresting crime museum in the United States. Guests of all ages can embark on a unique journey through the history of American crime, crime-solving, and the justice system. Through interactive exhibits and original artifacts, Alcatraz East is an entertaining and educational experience for all ages - so much fun it's a crime! This family attraction is at The Island's entrance, 2757 Parkway, Pigeon Forge, TN. The last ticket is sold 60 minutes before closing. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.alcatrazeast.com.

Source:
Pew Research Center. 8 facts about Americans and TikTok. March 2026. https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2026/03/02/8-facts-about-americans-and-tiktok/ 

SOURCE Alcatraz East Crime Museum