According to a report, Elon Musk has discontinued a Twitter feature designed to redirect people contemplating suicide.
Users who searched for self-harm posts and similar content on Twitter were previously directed to suicide prevention hotlines and organisations that could assist. The #ThereIsHelp programme also provided resources for HIV, vaccines, child sexual exploitation, COVID-19, gender-based violence, and natural disasters around the world.
However, because Musk has reduced Twitter’s staff, the programme was terminated this week, according to Reuters.
According to Reuters, AIDS United, one of the organisations previously suggested under #ThereIsHelp, received about 70 views per day on a Twitter-linked webpage until December 18. The page has received 14 total views in the five days since.
Musk has not responded to the reported changes.
According to Reuters, millions of people have seen #ThereIsHelp messages since the programme began. Eirliani Abdul Rahman, who was a member of a Twitter advisory group before Musk disbanded it, told Reuters that the change was “extremely disconcerting and profoundly disturbing,” even if it was only temporary.
Musk has reduced Twitter’s workforce since taking over in late October. In the two months he’s been in charge, an estimated 75% of Twitter employees have left the company.
