Florida Mom Discovers Suicide Instructions in YouTube Videos For Children

[demmiblue]

A Florida mom and pediatrician warned parents to better monitor their children’s internet activity after she found a disturbing clip that appeared to encourage children to harm themselves, inserted into gaming videos on YouTube and YouTube Kids.

Dr. Free Hess, from Gainesville, Florida, found the 9-second-long suicide instructions sandwiched between clips of the Nintendo game Splatoon last week and shared it online to caution other parents. "Remember kids, sideways for attention, longways for results," a man said while demonstrating the cutting motion on his arm. "End it."

The man, identified by CBS News as YouTuber Filthy Frank, has over 6.2 million followers and refers to himself in the description of his page as “the embodiment of everything a person should not be.” There is no evidence that Frank, whose real name is reportedly George Miller, inserted the suicide instructions into the video.

Hess said the clip was found in at least two videos uploaded to YouTube and YouTube Kids since July. "Looking at the comments, it had been up for a while, and people had even reported it eight months prior," she told CBS News.

https://www.newsweek.com/florida-mom-discovers-suicide-instructions-youtube-videos-children-1341956?utm_campaign=NewsweekTwitter&utm_source=Twitter&utm_medium=Social&__twitter_impression=true

[smirkymonkey]

1. K&R

Really sad. To think this was specifically aimed at children. It's so sick.

[Hekate]

3. It was reported 8 months ago and it's still there? How could YouTube leave something so sick up? nt

[IluvPitties]

4. Social media running amok.

Our next president needs to help regulate that jungle a little bit. Privacy issues, misinformation and stuff like this should be taken care of.