Self-Harm Content

Self-harm content is any material that expresses, encourages, or provides instructions for self-harm or suicide. It is one of the most sensitive categories in moderation because the goal is not only enforcement but the safety of a person who may be at risk.

What it means

This category spans a wide range, from someone expressing distress and reaching out, to content that actively encourages others to hurt themselves, to instructional material. These require very different responses. A cry for help should be met with support resources, not a silent deletion, while content that pushes others toward harm needs to be removed. Distinguishing between them depends on reading intent carefully.

Real-world examples

• A member expressing that they are struggling and thinking about hurting themselves.
• Messages encouraging another person to harm themselves.
• Content sharing methods or instructions.

Why it matters

Getting this category right can be a matter of real-world safety. Over-aggressive moderation can punish someone who is asking for help, which makes them feel more isolated. Under-moderation can let genuinely dangerous encouragement spread. Many platforms pair detection with support resources and human review rather than automatic action alone, precisely because the stakes are high and the nuance matters. Supervisor scores this as its Self-Harm label.