Even as trigger warnings increasingly ruin the storylines of shows and movies, entertainment and streaming companies seem only to be expanding the scope of themes that require advance warning.
The movie industry seems to have reached the height of parody with its latest trigger warning for the 1990 crime classic “Goodfellas,” warning viewers that an Italian gangster will be appearing in a movie about Italian gangsters.
“This film contains language and cultural stereotypes that do not meet today’s standards of inclusion and tolerance and may be offending to some viewers,” the message read.
Warnings about stereotypes and disturbing content are always there, but trauma-related trigger notices on TV shows are even more damaging to the user experience: trauma warnings actually ruin the storylines of many episodes in an effort to spare sensitive viewers even the slightest bit of discomfort.
As variety According to reports, Netflix’s “Baby Reindeer” will feature a warning that reads, “The upcoming episode contains depictions of sexual violence which some viewers may find disturbing,” revealing that the show will feature a sexual assault scene.
For viewers of a popular series, it’s pretty easy to predict what a content warning refers to if the warning can be easily linked to a character’s storyline.
International streaming service Stan warned of suicide in Better Call Saul with a hotline number, while Apple TV+ similarly warned viewers about “depictions of self-harm” in the drama Severance.
“Giving a trigger warning means you’re acknowledging that the person will feel upset.”
Suicide and sexual assault are the main reasons for warnings to precede content, but many in the industry don’t care, even if it comes at the expense of the story.
Does the Dog Die founder John Whipple said he doesn’t mind ruining movies. In a recent post on his website, “I Ruin Movies, and I’m Proud of It,” Whipple wrote: read.
Whipple said the data shows there’s an unmet need for very specific content warnings across all forms of entertainment.
Colleen Clemens, director of women’s, gender and sexuality studies at Kutztown University in Pennsylvania, told Variety that while trauma and dysphoria are starting to “converge,” she still supports trigger warnings.
“I appreciate TV shows stating at the beginning that they depict sexual violence,” she told the outlet. “That’s great. Thank you for letting me know. Now I can make a decision about whether or not I want to watch it.”
Clemens is Defending trigger warnings In 2016, he worked for the Southern Poverty Law Center.
She said trigger warnings are a way to avoid traumatic memories, and that she has given verbal trigger warnings to adults while teaching in high schools and even in college settings.
“I don’t see this as an act of pampering. I see it as an act of nurturing,” Clemens said.
Stand-up comedian Leonarda Johnny I see it in a totally different way.
“Trigger warnings have now been expanded to include non-null gender identifications, safe spaces, and even ‘trans misogyny’ warnings.”
“We need trigger warnings because people are so coddled. They’re taught that they’re not responsible for their own emotions, that it’s someone else’s fault.”
“When you give a trigger warning, you’re legitimizing someone’s feelings of offense,” Jonny continued. “It tells them they should be offended and reinforces their self-righteousness.”
It seems that no type of content escapes these warnings and it often becomes a way for activists to express their political opinions before viewers/users consume the content.
In early April 2024, it was revealed that a board game based on the “Tomb Raider” video game contained a scathing critique of the game’s protagonist: the game described its lore as “colonialist” and accused the title character of being someone who steals from tombs.
Melissa Carter, showrunner for TV shows “The Cleaning Lady” and “Queen Sugar,” said she thinks trigger warnings act as an “extra guardrail” for younger viewers.
“A [trigger warning] At the very least, it will prepare them for something that will be personally upsetting to them,” she said.
commentator Lewis Blackpool I believe that’s no longer true.
“Trigger warnings used to be meant to warn parents and viewers about any graphic imagery related to distressing content. Now trigger warnings have expanded to include warnings against nonsense gender identities, safe spaces and even the oxymoron that is ‘trans misogyny,'” Blackpool explained.
“I advocate returning to the trigger warnings of the 1990s, which served a robust purpose.”
Even Disney classics and James Bond movies have received trigger warnings in recent days, and industry insiders say they’re here to stay, as streaming services seem to have decided that avoiding discomfort and potential trauma takes priority over the overall user experience.
But there may be some middle ground, such as the CBS show Ghost, which has been circumspect about spoilers but has posted a warning on its Facebook page.
“Tonight’s episode deals with a sensitive subject. … I won’t go into details so as not to spoil the episode, but I will share some support resources.”
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