Twitter Brings Back Suicide Prevention Feature After Brief Removal

Twitter is working to bring back the #ThereIsHelp banner, a feature that directs users to suicide prevention hotlines and other safety resources when searching for specific content. On Friday, Reuters reported that the company had removed the feature earlier in the week at the request of Elon Musk. However, Ella Irwin, Twitter’s head of trust and safety, confirmed the removal but stated that it was temporary and that the feature would be restored next week.

 

 

Musk denied that the feature was removed, stating on Twitter that it was “fake news.” The temporary removal of the #ThereIsHelp banner led to criticism from some consumer safety advocates, including Eirliani Abdul Rahman, a former member of Twitter’s now-dissolved Trust and Safety council. Rahman stated that the event was “extremely disconcerting and profoundly disturbing” and pointed out that companies typically work on safety features “in parallel,” leaving existing ones in place before replacing them. In the US, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline can be reached by dialling 988 or 800-273-8255.