In April 2023, Bloomberg.com published an article entitled "Tiktok’s Algorithm Keeps Pushing Suicide to Vulnerable Kids” in which it explained that Tiktok was facing a “flood of lawsuits” due to teen suicides that the victims’ parents blamed on the social media company.

So if a user interacts with or views suicide-related content, even out of curiosity, the algorithm may suggest more of such material, potentially increasing negative thoughts and contributing to a concerning cycle of exposure. It’s comparable to a phenomenon that was observed in the late 20th century, known as the Werther effect. Another name for it is copycat suicide.

Where does the name come from? What are some recent examples of the Werther effect? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

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