Should we be sceptical about content warnings?
“Warning, this podcast contains descriptions of violence.”
“Warning, this article is NSFW.”
“Warning, this episode contains sex, alcohol and other naughtiness.”
“Great, get on with it then,” I say in my head (or sometimes out loud). “I’m an adult, I’ve chosen to watch, read or listen to this. Why are you warning me?”
I can’t lie, I used to find these warnings incredibly annoying and frustrating.
That is, until a stranger cried.
I was at an event where a surprise speaker talked about a subject around death. It was quite shocking. But that was the point, I thought. The speaker was very effective and informative. They spoke in sensitive, hushed tones.
Then, this capable speaker asked very politely if anyone had any questions.
“I don’t have any questions, just a bit of feedback,” came the stranger’s voice, wobbling with emotion.
“I got in touch yesterday to ask about what subjects the surprise speaker would be talking about. I lost a friend and this talk has really upset me. I came here in a work capacity and I wasn’t expecting this. I’d really appreciate it if you could warn us in advance about the content of any talks in the future.”
Oh god. Swallow me up world.
It was awkward all round. For the stranger, for the speaker, for the event organiser, for everyone else.
Since then, I’ve been a bit more open-minded about content warnings. But there are still a few unanswered questions. When should you use them? How should you use them? What’s the balance between keeping the element of surprise and not accidentally triggering someone?
I hope to get some answers below.
What exactly are sensitivity warnings?
Firstly, we need to distinguish between content and trigger warnings:
Content warnings should be given when subject matter or information that is potentially upsetting, damaging or inappropriate for members of the public to consume is being presented
Trigger warnings should be given when stories, experiences or information that could trigger someone’s previous experience of a traumatic event
Examples of content warnings may include:
Age restrictions or recommendations for viewers
Strong language
Use of drugs or alcohol
Racist, sexist or anti-semitic content
Homophobia or transphobia
While subjects you may need to issue a trigger warning for are:
Violence and death
Sex, including any forms of sexual abuse
Alcohol or drug abuse
Suicide or self-harm
Mental health or eating disorders
In essence, as long as you’re issuing a warning that’s accurate to what’s included in the content, it doesn’t matter which category it falls under. It’s just important to be aware of the types of subjects that might need a warning put against them.
When should sensitivity warnings be used?
As a rule of thumb, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Away from the cliches, it’s important to take a moment and think about any content you’re about to share publically.
Consider the question, ‘Is there anyone that may find this inappropriate or upsetting?’
Sceptics (I know, I was one of them) may answer that this could be any person about anything, so here’s another question to think about.
‘If someone came across this content inadvertently, would it potentially cause a negative emotional reaction?’
For example, if a parent was listening to a podcast in their car, would they choose to switch it off if their child was in the passenger seat?
Would someone who’s just had a bad breakup become upset after reading your article?
Would a daughter dealing with the loss of her dad want to read your email?
Even if you might not find something inappropriate or triggering, adding a sensitivity warning in these cases shows you’re considering the thoughts and feelings of others who might.
How should sensitivity warnings be used?
There are no laws around the format or content of sensitivity warnings. But here are some best practice tips to help you get started:
Put them at the beginning of any content, whether it's before the podcast intro or the top of the page or the social post
Repeat them where you feel it appropriate. For example, in the audio and episode description of a podcast
Make them as clear as possible - a short statement, not a lengthy explanation
Keep them factual and don’t presume how people will feel about your content e.g. ‘this contains strong language’ not ‘you might find this content upsetting’
For particularly sensitive topics or where you’re uncertain about how someone may react, ask for advice from a relevant community or advice group
Should you use sensitivity warnings?
There are arguments and evidence for and against using sensitivity warnings.
As an article in Psychology Today outlined, while many people are in favour of using them to protect others from potential harm, studies have shown they may have the opposite effect. For some people, seeing the warning is enough to make them experience the negative feelings they’re supposedly being protected from.
Plus, some creatives and artists say that adding a warning before your content can ruin its impact. It’s the emotional reaction to a piece, whether it's shock, outrage or fear, that makes it truly effective. Contrary to that, some people’s curiosity is piqued by sensitivity warnings and makes them more likely to view it.
Let’s be honest, in the online world, (cue cliche klaxon) you can’t do right for doing wrong. So businesses must take their own stand on sensitivity warnings. Then, they should set out some guidelines in company policies about when, how and why warnings should be used.
If you publish these policies on your website for the public to see your reasoning, even better. This will show you’re acting with the best intentions and help people make an informed choice about what they consume. Having internal policies and processes in place will also help your teams deal with any questions or crises in a clear, calm way.
After all, kindness and compassion are always the best policies.
