The CEO Speaks –
April 30, 2019 – But after another study connecting an uptick in teen suicide rates to the show made headlines this week, the streaming service has taken a slightly less ruthless attitude. “We’ve just seen this study and are looking into the research, which conflicts with last week’s study from the University of Pennsylvania,” a Netflix spokesperson told Gizmodo in an email on Tuesday. “This is a critically important topic and we have worked hard to ensure that we handle this sensitive issue responsibly.”
The spokesperson linked to an article detailing a study published in the journal Social Science and Medicine this month. This study reportedly found that of the adults aged 18 to 29 surveyed, those who finished the show’s second season, which released in May of last year, had beneficial effects. But that adults surveyed who didn’t finish the season had a higher risk of suicide. It’s not exactly the most reassuring findings given the opposition, but it does slightly undermine the new study reinvigorating the debate over whether the show is linked to an increase in suicides.
