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Content Warning: This post contains brief, non-detailed mentions of sexual misconduct, suicide, violence, and racism.
“Trigger warning” has become a phrase that seems to instantly spark debate in any online circle. I think it’s important, especially during Disability Pride Month, to talk about how trigger warnings create increased accessibility across all types of content.
As someone with PTSD, this concept is near to my heart. And as a writer, I want to encourage other writers to adapt practices that may be helpful. After all, it’s easy to do and doesn’t harm you or your work in any way. But at the end of the day, it’s a publisher/creator’s choice whether they use content warnings.
In this post, we’ll talk about what trigger warnings are, how to use them, and why they’re used. Shall we?
Table of Contents:
- What are trigger warnings?
- How to properly use trigger warnings:
- Trigger warning examples:
- Does everyone have to use trigger warnings?
What are trigger warnings?
Trigger warnings, also called content warnings, are short, concise warnings given before a piece of media. They inform readers of content that may be triggering, giving the reader agency to engage or keep scrolling. You saw one at the beginning of this post.
They are not intended to be spoilers, or to tell people not to engage with content. Many people think that trigger warnings serve to dampen the effect of potentially disturbing content. While they may do this for some, their real purpose is to give readers the ability to opt out of content that may be too triggering for them to engage with at that moment.
In the case of book trigger warnings, they shouldn’t spoil details of the book’s plot. Instead, they use general language to describe known triggers that could instigate an extreme reaction in a reader.
Being “triggered” is not a matter of being upset. It can mean panic attacks, disassociation, flashbacks, and other mental or physiological symptoms that are extremely hard to manage. Trigger warnings give those of us with PTSD the option to avoid content that could have a strong negative impact on us.
How to properly use trigger warnings:
Content warnings should always come before the content, and be clear and easy to read/see/hear. They should be concise, containing general language. You cannot target every possible trigger, but marking common triggers like sexual misconduct, violence, gore, or racism is a good standard practice.
Most importantly, trigger warnings should not be used as a joke. Ever. Making a joke out of an accessibility tool takes away its credibility, makes people not take them seriously, and contributes to the harmful belief that trigger warnings are, well, a joke.
For example, posting a video of a cat running into a wall and adding “CW: car crash” may seem funny at first, but it sends the message that content warnings are jokes. Think about it this way: would you feel the same if we made those jokes about people who use crutches? About braille or white canes? All of these are accessibility tools that deserve to be taken seriously.
Keep reading to see some trigger warning examples, both good and bad.
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Trigger warning examples:
Good examples:
- Content warning: this story contains graphic depictions of violence and sexual assault
- Trigger warning: this article contains descriptions of racism and racist slurs
- Notice: this book deals heavily with suicide and self-harm, often in graphic detail
Notice how each of these examples is descriptive yet concise, and don’t spoil any important details of the content they’re preceding.
Bad examples:
- “Trigger warning”: On page 97, Ella gets sexually assaulted by a man from the park. (Spoils the plot of the story)
- Content warning: bad stuff. (Is not specific)
- Trigger warning: This film contains depictions of drugs, licorice, and the Stanley Cup. (Contains topics which are not commonly triggers)
- Trigger warning. (Doesn’t mention what the triggers actually are)
Does everyone have to use trigger warnings?
In short, no. Content warnings are not mandated, and that’s fine. There may be times when they don’t seem appropriate.
However, I, like many writers, believe that trigger warnings are a good standard practice. Why? Because they give more agency to the people engaging with your content, and don’t detract from your content in any way.
I’d like to finish with a personal story as an example. During my first semester of college, I took a course about race, education, and freedom. Early on in the course, we read an excerpt from a book. This excerpt contained quite graphic depictions of both sexual assault and lynching.
At the time, I didn’t have trauma around these topics, but they were still difficult for me to read without warning. I can imagine how hard it would have been for someone with trauma in those areas.
I went to the professor, asking him if he would consider using content warnings in the future.
“It’s a class about race and racism,” he responded. “It should be a given that the content is going to be upsetting. And I don’t want to discourage students from reading the material.”
I was floored. I can understand assuming that lynching may be talked about in a class on racism (although a warning at the start of class would still help, without doing harm). But sexual assault and racism are not intrinsically linked.
Besides, imagine a student with sexual trauma reading this passage, having a panic attack, and then getting so anxious about it, they don’t come to the class session where we discussed it. Would that really be beneficial to the student or to the class?
Do you have an example of trigger warnings used respectfully and helpfully? I’d love to hear it! You can leave a comment down below or on my Instagram (@ashtonrosewrites) or Facebook (@ashtonrosewritesfb). And if you liked this post, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss the next one.
Ashton Rose 