How to Report Self-harm or Suicide content on popular Social Media platforms
Posted on: January 5, 2021

How to Report Self-harm or Suicide content on popular Social Media platforms

Please note: In emergency with endangered person for which you know location, please call 911. If you are in Owensboro-Daviess County KY, you can always call our local law enforcement for  a welfare check on any person of concern (non-emergency), call dispatch at Owensboro Police Department 270-687-8888 or Daviess County Sheriff Department 270-685-8444 and request a “well-check.”  They will need the last known location of the person.

The number of social media platforms is exploding. ¹   According to “Smart Social,” YouTube was the most used social media app among teens in 2019, followed by Instagram, and Snapchat.  TikTok is the fastest growing social media app among 16-24 year olds. ²  Facebook continues to be the behemoth, with active users numbering 2.23 billion as of June 2020. ³ 

Here is brief overview on how to report self-harming content on the most popular social media, along with more comprehensive links to resources on what to do if you see a post with self-harming information and how to interact with the person.⁴ Additional information on USA & International Crisis lines. ⁵

(Download .pdf at https://tinyurl.com/y4fvehf4)

YouTube: To report suicide or self-harm, click “More.” Highlight and click “Report” in the drop-down menu. Click “Harmful dangerous acts,” then “Suicide or self-injury.” YouTube will review the video and may send a message to the uploader with the Lifeline number.

Instagram: To report posts about suicide or self-harm on Instagram: Tap “…” below the post. Tap “Report Inappropriate.” Select “This Photo Puts People At Risk > Self-Harm.”

Snapchat: To report a safety concern, press and hold on that Snapchatter’s name and tap the gear button. Then, tap ‘Report’ and reach out to Snapchat, and follow the prompts. https://support.snapchat.com/en-US/i-need-help?

TikTok: To report for self-harm, follow these instructions: Tap the arrow at the bottom right hand corner of the video. Tap the report icon. Select “Self injury” and follow the prompts.

Facebook:

• On a POST: 1. Click in the top right of the post. 2. Click Report post or Report photo. 3. Select the option that best describes the issue and follow the on-screen instructions.
• On a PHOTO OR VIDEO: 1. Click on the photo or video to expand it. 2. Hover over the photo or video and click Options in the bottom-right corner 3. Click Report Photo for photos or Report Video for videos. 4. Select the option that best describes the issue and follow the on-screen instructions. If you’re having trouble reporting something, please log in from a computer and use the report links.
• On a PAGE: 1. Go to the Page you want to report. 2. Click ••• below the Page’s cover photo. 3. Select Report Page. 4. Select the option that best describes the issue and follow the on-screen instructions. If you can’t access the Page you want to report, consider asking a friend to report it.

Twitter: report using this form: https://help.twitter.com/forms/report_self_harm Additional information: https://help.twitter.com/en/safety-and-security/self-harm-and-suicide

• Periscope by Twitter is being shut down on 3/31/2021: TO REPORT A BROADCAST 1. Navigate to the broadcast you’d like to Report. 2. On iOS or Android, select the three dot symbol ••• next to the comment field and tap the ‘Report Broadcast’ button. 3. Select a reason for the report – SelfHarm 4. Select the option that best describes the issue and follow the on-screen instructions. 5. On web, select the ‘i’ icon next to the comment field to reveal the broadcast title 6. Click the exclamation point icon next to the title. 7. This will instantaneously alert the Periscope team of the sensitive content. (If you see a user posting abusive or offensive comments in a broadcast you can select the comment and tap ‘Report Comment’.)

Reddit:  “If you’re worried about someone, you can let us know by reporting the specific post or comment that worried you and selecting, Someone is considering suicide or serious self-harm. After you let us know, we’ll reach out (confidentially) to put them in touch with Crisis Text Line’s trained Crisis Counselors.” https://www.reddithelp.com/hc/en-us/articles/360043513931-What-do-I-do-if-someone-talks-about-seriously-hurting-themselves-or-is-considering-suicide-

Tumbler: “To report simply email [email protected]or [email protected] and provide as much information about the person as possible including any screengrabs of the content on the account. You can also report promotion of self-harm content through their online form”

WhatsApp messaging: provides a list of international resources if user encounters suicide content in messages or groups. https://faq.whatsapp.com/general/security-and-privacy/global-suicide-hotline-resources/

Pinterest: Click on the Pin to open the Pin close-up. Click  at the top of the Pin. Click Report Pin. Pick your reason for reporting, then click Next. Click Done https://help.pinterest.com/en/article/report-something-on-pinterest

Sources:

1. 101+ Social Media Sites You Need to Know in 2021: https://influencermarketinghub.com/social-media-sites/
2. Teen Social Media Statistics 2020 (What Parents Need to Know) https://smartsocial.com/social-media-statistics/
3. https://www.dreamgrow.com/top-15-most-popular-social-networking-sites/
4. “Support for Suicidal Individuals on Social and Digital Media” (PDF) retrieved from https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/help-someone-else/safety-and-support-on-social-media/ “Digital communities and social media platforms provide important vehicles to express ourselves, find information, and communicate with one another. This is also true for individuals in distress who are potentially suicidal. Too often their posts go unnoticed or not responded to. There are compelling reasons for social media companies to establish digital policies that will reduce the risk of suicide for these individuals as well as mitigate risk for the company. Not only will it save lives, it is the socially responsible thing to do.” The last 12 pages are crisis & suicide prevention resources in USA & International! The link to this comprehensive PDF is https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Lifeline-Social-Media-Toolkit-2020.pdf 
5. How to access help inside the U.S.  
   • Text CHAT to 741741 to reach Crisis Text Line
     You’ll be connected to a trained Crisis Counselor from Crisis Text Line.
   • Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255
     You’ll be connected to a crisis worker from the Lifeline.
   • Call, Text, or Chat with the Trevor Project
     For young person in the LGBTQ community, connect with a Trevor counselor.
   • Call, Text, or Chat with the Veterans Crisis Line
     You’ll be connected to responders with the Department of Veterans Affairs, many who are Veterans themselves. It’s available to all service members, their families, and friends.
   • Call 911 if immediate danger.

    Resources outside the U.S.

   • Call, Text, or Chat with Canada’s Crisis Services Canada
     You’ll be connected to a CSPS responder.
   • Go to the UK’s Samaritans
     You’ll be connected to a Samaritan.
   • Visit r/SuicideWatch.
     The moderators there keep a comprehensive list of resources and hotlines in and outside the U.S., organized by location.

Eva Glahn Atkinson © 1/5/2021