15 Dec Social Media Support: Facebook’s Effort for Suicide Prevention for Teens
While teenagers are moving towards other social media platforms, Facebook remains one of the top social networks used by the age group. It’s becoming clearer and clearer that mental health issues are incredibly prevalent in the youth population. It looks like Facebook is striving to make a difference in suicide prevention for teens.
Using artificial intelligence to help with suicide prevention for teens
Facebook already created certain mechanisms allowing users to flag posts from those contemplating self-harm–but now it has a new feature. This feature uses artificial intelligence (AI) to detect those posts without anyone reporting that they’re there. According to CEO Mark Zuckerberg, the tools have already made a difference: “In the last month alone, these AI tools have helped us connect with first responders quickly more than 100 times. With all the fear about how AI may be harmful in the future, it’s good to remind ourselves how AI is actually helping save people’s lives today.” Compared to Stephen Hawking and Elon Musk who claim AI will be the downfall of humanity, Zuckerberg has been a huge supporter of AI development to improve lives. Facebook’s AI uses pattern recognition to single out red flags, such as comments asking if someone is doing okay. Once identified, a team gets pinged and then works to get aid. Also, the AI takes the flagged posts sent in and put them into priority order. This is so the human moderators can get help to the user sooner. Zuckerberg hopes to see the AI being used on a more integrated level. He wants it to be able to not just help with suicide prevention for teens and users, but identify hate speech and bullying, too. He believes it has the potential to make social media platforms a safer, more supportive space. ViewPoint Center is a teen assessment center, ages 12 to 17. At ViewPoint Center, we provide treatment through superior assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and stabilization–all in a personalized environment for your child in crisis. Our goal is to help your child through this hard time. Before ViewPoint, families are often frustrated and lost. Varying doctors and therapists with a range of advice, diagnoses, and plans leaves parents and children unsure of where to turn. At ViewPoint, we centralize all of the different diagnoses, and create a comprehensive report for you and your family to get back on track. Let us help you. For more information about suicide prevention for teens at ViewPoint Center, contact us today at 801-825-5222. 
For teens, their social media profiles reflect who they are–or who they want to be. They post what they like, how they’re feeling, and what they’re doing. It would make sense if someone’s struggling, it may be echoed through social media.How it works with Facebook’s existing tools
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