As you can see, Tumblr provides help just by detecting certain word searches. Sites such as Google or Facebook are also able to do this by monitoring our searches. Of course, this does mean we seize our privacy; it's almost inevitable. By typing suicide in google, the first result shown is: "You're not alone. Confidential help is available for free." while also displaying the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline number underneath. In the case of Facebook, your searches generate which ads are shown to you. If your recent searches contain mental health and related issues, your ads will most likely include "seeking help". 

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Can social media prevent suicides? According to the American Psychiatric Association, Facebook is hoping to improve its response to potential suicides by working with the National Suicide Prevention Hotline. Facebook staff members will review posts that have been reported for suicidal content and will send the individual a notification including suggestions for seeking help and support. Facebook's CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, recently announced that he will hire 3,000 people in order to monitor events such as live broadcasted suicides. This will benefit both the economy by lowering unemployment rates and society as a whole; especially those seeking mental help. 

 

Zuckerberg (2017) said: "And we'll keep working with local community groups and law enforcement who are in the best position to help someone if they need it — either because they're about to harm themselves, or because they're in danger from someone else."  

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Not only that, Facebook announced just last month that it will be implementing suicide prevention tools and live-chat support. 

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The stigma of social media being harmful to society will still stand for some. Nevertheless, we cannot ignore the measurements social networks are taking to combat such issues. 

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