Online suicide challenges and trends

In recent years, various online ‘suicide challenges’ and trends have surfaced and resurfaced, causing widespread concern. Some of these trends are real, others are hoaxes, or began as hoaxes, intended to frighten and cause panic. Regardless of their origin, they have the potential to cause harm if attention is drawn to them.

Due to the potential risk of contagion, we should do all we can to limit information about specific online challenges and trends being shared more widely. This could initiate widespread media coverage of the challenge and inadvertently raise greater awareness of it among young audiences, who may go online to find out more, potentially exposing them to harmful self-harm and suicide content. Online risk is a broad spectrum and to focus on a single aspect, such as one online challenge, may mean attention is specific to this and other types of harmful online challenges or activities are not talked about.

Therefore, we strongly recommend careful consideration is given prior to publishing any specific warnings or alerts to the public, to avoid drawing greater attention to one particular challenge.

However, if you become aware of a suicide or self-harm related challenge, game or trend, or you are concerned about any harmful content you see online, please email [email protected]

Advice for parents and practitioners

While it is important to promote online safety to young audiences, parents and adults who work with children and young people, it is safer to approach this with general messages about online safety, without naming specific online trends or challenges.

If you are forwarded warnings about any online challenge or game relating to self-harm and suicide, please think carefully about what you share. It is worth reminding people of the importance of avoiding drawing attention to it and inadvertently advertising it to young people. Some further advice below:

• We encourage parents and adults who work with young people to talk to them about all their online activity. Let them share what they’re playing or looking at, rather than asking them whether they have seen or engaged with a specific online challenge, which may draw their interest to it or mean they do not talk about other concerning online activities. Samaritans has produced guidance on how to talk to children and young people about self-harm and suicide content online.
• We encourage extreme caution on sharing online content with young people that may be distressing or upsetting. If young people express any concern or worries over material they have seen online, or posts or comments that friends or others have made, it is important to listen to them and offer support. Remember that inappropriate online material, which could be harmful and distressing, can be reported through social media channels for review and potential removal. For practical guidance on reporting worrying content and controlling what you see online, please refer to our user resources.
• Providing information and signposting to sources of support for all young people is important regardless of whether an online challenge is circulating. It may also be useful to provide advice on how young people can support themselves and their friends. Further information on Supporting someone online who might be struggling.
  
• If you have concerns that someone is suicidal, useful information can be found here.
  
• For tips on discussing suicide safely online, see our guidance.
  
• For general advice on online safety, ChildNet have advice aimed at young people, parents and teachers. ChildNet

If you have any concerns or questions about online challenges or other harmful content related to suicide and self-harm, please contact the Online Safety Advisory Service at Samaritans. [email protected].