YOUTH
Content warning: This article discusses self-harm, suicide, and sexual assault.
“Welcome to your tape”, four words popularized by
the Netflix original 13 Reasons Why, quickly became the punchline to Internet memes after the show’s release. The phrase originally appeared as Hannah Baker, the deceased protagonist, introduces listeners to her explanation for why they’ve earned the special spot as “one of the reasons [her life ended]”. The show’s premise is simple, taken from the novel of the same name, though it has since capitalized on its success in 2017 (as it stands, there should now be thirtynine reasons). Drawn-out plotlines aside, the first season and the jokes that ensued have unsurprisingly caused the issue of suicide to enter the public consciousness. With the words of a girl on her metaphorical deathbed rendered comedic material for failed Instagram comedians, one must ask if the near-instant popularity of 13 Reasons Why has done more harm than good. The show has, undoubtedly, broached the eversensitive topic of suicide to a perhaps uninformed audience, yet when ninteen-year-old Emily Bragg imitated Hannah’s on-screen suicide, complete with her distraught mother’s reaction, it seems difficult to justify the merits of “raising awareness”. Though younger viewers arguably have little exposure to mental illness and suicide, they aren’t clueless - jokes are widespread enough to prove that. Setting aside morals for a second, the critical reception to 13 Reasons
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Why was initially favorable, with the first season earning a 79% Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes; though subsequent seasons have been torn to shreds by critics. Its score on Metacritic, which weighs reviews from critics across the web, dropped from 76 to 23, with reviewers describing how the writers had resorted to exploitative, illogical plotlines in an attempt to prolong the lifespan of a show that should have only lasted a single season. Audiences still tuned in, though, as with televisation comes the inevitable drama, perfectly crafted to keep audiences hooked. Take the character of Alex Strandall, whose attempted suicide never occured in the novel, yet was written roughly halfway into the season. This is certainly not the furthest the writers have strayed from the source material (remember the twenty-six extra reasons), yet 13 Reasons Why’s depiction of sexual assault, substance abuse, and of course, suicide, has time and time again proved to glamorize dangerous experiences, creating torture porn for teenagers that turns a suicidal girl’s confessions into a melodramatic soap opera. Studies and even an article published by the United States National Institute of Health have stated that media portrayals of suicidal behavior have “potentially negative influences and facilitate suicidal acts” to viewers; if that enough has such an effect, the image of Hannah bleeding out into her bathtub is more than likely to have a less-than-desirable impact. Though the scene has since been removed and trigger
