People are debating whether it's OK to joke about 'World War 3'

When something terrible happens in current affairs, people often take to social media to despair.

And, in the Internet age of memes and viral content, for some people that includes sharing jokes online.

That’s what happened today when Iran’s most powerful military commander, General Qasem Soleimani, was killed by a US military airstrike, drastically escalating tensions between Iran and America.

After the news broke, jokes about the risk of not only impending war, but World War Three, came in thick and fast.

However, others have called out these jokes, saying that the history of US warfare in the Middle East and the potential devastation is no laughing matter.

This has ignited a debate about whether comedy about such topics is off-limits, with some people defending the right to make jokes.

After all, if there's one thing as certain on social media as people sharing jokes – whether appropriate or inappropriate – it's a debate.

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