Facebook is in phase of planning the use of its suicide prevention tools through its Facebook Live and Messenger services. Additionally, it is testing Artificial Intelligence (AI) to detect suicidal or self-threatening posts.
The biggest social media platform has already been working on such measures to prevent suicide attempts for over a decade. Any self-threatening post at Facebook can be directly worked out by the user’s friend or he/she can report the post to Facebook. The company blog reported that such reports are reviewed as high-priority cases by Facebook’s 24/7 dedicated team. Furthermore, the team instantly provides the user with support options.
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Rolling out to Facebook Live and Messenger
The same feature is being added to Facebook Live, company’s live video chatting platform. People viewing such videos can instantly report to Facebook or directly reach out to the person. The viewer will be further provided with a set of resources and tips by the Facebook team to help with the situation.
The user posting suicidal thoughts would also be receiving live support through Messenger. Facebook offers such services in collaboration of its partner groups, which include the Crisis Text Line, the National Eating Disorder Association and the National Suicide Prevention Hotline.
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Artificial Intelligence Testing
Facebook is working on Artificial Intelligence to detect posts that indicate suicidal behavior to improve streamline reporting. Moreover, it also provides access to self-help tools to its users. For this purpose it is testing various tools to recognize patterns that automatically indicate suicidal tendencies. Through proper streamlining, the AI could be developed to eliminate the reporting phase from the process.
It holds plenty of significance that no tool can be a substitute for any direct action taken at the time of crisis. Nonetheless, if you come across such suicidal behavior or reports of someone in real danger of self harm, always contact the nearest authorities first, before you inform the Facebook.
Source: Facebook
