Facebook Responds to Rash of Multiple Livestreamed Deaths With Suicide Prevention Tool

Facebook has implemented suicide prevention tools into Facebook Live.

While Facebook Live has been championed by brands for allowing their followers to get a peak into their process, it's also brought about a dark culture of people committing suicide for the world to see. From the base jumper who livestreamed his death to the teengirls who took their own lives to the aspiring actor who committed suicide after being arrested for sexual assault, the last couple of months have seen Facebook's Live platform catch some flack.

Today, Facebook announced it has implemented a suicide prevention tool into Facebook Live, which would allow people to not only report the video directly to Facebook, but also provide them the option of hitting up the person streaming directly. They also included the ability to hit up help lines as well.

Facebook is said to be giving AI the ability to streamline the reporting process using pattern recognition. This would essentially make it easier to report posts regarding "suicide or self injury" from people who are labeled higher risks. Facebook has also run limited tests on recognizing posts that could be perceived as having suicidal thoughts.

For more information on the tools Facebook is implementing in its suicide prevention campaign, head here.

If you or someone you know is in crisis and needs help, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255

 

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