It's sadly likely there will be another huge spike in suicides, as recent coverage has been horrendously insensitive—either through opportunism or lack of consulting with experts. The romanticization, the constant publicizing of method, the marathon, larger-than-life coverage.https://twitter.com/zeynep/status/963900584901226497 …
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Celebrity suicide coverage is so horrible, so insensitive that I can't find words. It's like there aren't real people involved; that there aren't so many more suffering now; that a child's life has not just been devastated. No, let's just do a marathon. Good for ratings, I guess.
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Talking about tough issues is good; it could've been an opportunity. But you need to bring in some experts here and treat people as real people, not as content to fill time and pages with. The romanticization is big part of what fuels suicidal ideation, and we've had nothing but.
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zeynep tufekci Retweeted Brian Wolfe
Didn't watch that but the only sensible thing is coverage that focuses on survivors and loved ones. The romanticization of the person as a celebrity when what's in front of us is a tremendous tragedy of real human beings is atrocious and irresponsible.https://twitter.com/wolfeb99/status/1005828476878741504 …
zeynep tufekci added,
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zeynep tufekci Retweeted Dr. Christine Sarteschi, PhD, LCSW
Yes. As the article explains, and as tons of research shows, It's absolutely possible to drastically reduce suicide rates; however, what has happened in the last week has been exactly the opposite of what needs to happen to reduce the rate of this tragedy.https://twitter.com/DrSarteschi/status/1005830297424945152 …
zeynep tufekci added,
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zeynep tufekci Retweeted Zachary Lipton
And then there is the ghoulish spectre of the ads running next to sensationalist, counterproductive suicide coverage. Hard to believe ads run like this, but they do.https://twitter.com/zacharylipton/status/1005826531883659265 …
zeynep tufekci added,
Zachary LiptonVerified account @zacharyliptonI propose this rule to reduce the amount that we sensationalize suicide: ***DO NOT RUN ads*** either (a) on an article about suicide or (b) an article 1-click downstream of suicide coverage, or (c) within 15 minutes of suicide coverage on television https://twitter.com/zeynep/status/1005823835269156864 …Show this thread2 replies 3 retweets 31 likesShow this thread -
zeynep tufekci Retweeted kellymcb
The only thing that's been barely observed is a lip-service addition of the help-line at the end of articles/coverage. It is so inexcusable as the research is clear; the guidelines are clear. The ratings, the money, the insensitivity trumps responsibility.https://twitter.com/kellymcb/status/1005053905678557184 …
zeynep tufekci added,
kellymcbVerified account @kellymcbWhen reporting on suicide: -Include resources for people who need help -Avoid oversimplifying the cause -Minimize details of the means of death, the less specific, the better -Don’t lionize the person -Don’t sensationalize the outpouring of grief https://www.poynter.org/news/can-journalists-prevent-suicide-clusters …2 replies 14 retweets 36 likesShow this thread -
Replying to @zeynep
AI will fix it! https://www.vox.com/science-and-health/2018/6/8/17441452/suicide-prevention-anthony-bourdain-crisis-text-line-data-science …
2 replies 0 retweets 2 likes
“Media does everything possible to fuel ideation and romanticize and sensationalize suicide, with help numbers at bottom of article as fig-leaf, and when those numbers get overwhelmed, they use ML to triage response.” Great plan.
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