13 Reasons Why: Can a TV Show About Suicide Be ‘Dangerous?’ What is the
Responsibility of a Producer?
Abstract
The release of the Netflix’s show 13 Reasons Whycaused
significant public concern about the risk of suicide contagion among
teenagers – particularly those who have suicidal thoughts.
Practitioners and researchers expressed apprehension about the show for
its apparent praise of suicide and for allegedly increasing suicide risk
among vulnerable teenagers. However, there is a lack of clear evidence
for the influence of fictional content on self-harm. Little is known
about variations in media effects between news and fiction. The
literature focuses mainly on non-fictional media reporting, without
making any distinction between individual vulnerability and the type of
media portrayal. The present article criticises the assumption that risk
of self-harm is reduced by sanitising fictional content. The absence of
scientific evidence is precisely why this article re-addresses the
problem through an ethical perspective by focusing on the moral
responsibility of Netflix in creating graphic content for young adults.
Censoring fiction may do more harm than good, but producers have the
responsibility to evaluate in advance the potential impact that such
content has on vulnerable people and support viewers as well as parents,
educators, practitioners through an adequate campaign of prevention.
