To wonder why companies that cause mental illness aren't punished like companies that cause other illness?

[PatoPotato]

I overheard that some people around the world can choose to undergo euthanasia because of mental illness.

This made me consider that much of marketing in business today plays on insecurities of the public. Social media and vloggers manipulate the feelings of people and make them feel insecure in order to get them to buy things. How is this a thing? If mental illness can be a reason to undergo euthanasia, certainly we shouldn't allow companies to inflict mental manipulation on the public? I believe suicide amongst the young has gone up badly since social media has become a thing. Why are we letting these companies put us in an eternal popularity contest of likes so we become addicted to the attention and keep going back to the site in hopes we click on an advert? This sounds like something that we are getting very, very wrong.

AIBU to wonder why companies that cause mental illness aren't punished like companies that cause other illness?

That would be complete media blackout as anything can worsen anyone's MH. Each person gets set off by different things.

But that wouldn't be the end of it, would it? What about people who make other people feeling worse? No talking in public? Universal ead to toe cover so no one can be made feel worse because by someone else's clothes/makeup/hair etc?

Well someone chopping their arm off in a machine at a factory is quite clear cut (excuse the pun).

Someone suffering from mental illness would have to narrow it down to one particular advert/article etc for the company to be held liable.

Also, suicide in young people may be on the rise but isn't this very much to do with social networking? More so than social media marketing?

And i don't think the "cause" mental ilness. I think there already must be a problem for the person to react in certain ways.

Also, suicide in young people may be on the rise but isn't this very much to do with social networking? More so than social media marketing?

I think there's definitely been a rise since social media companies started pitting people against each other for likes. I believe they did this to make their sites more addictive.

social media companies started pitting people against each other for likes. I believe they did this to make their sites more addictive

You write as though using social media and following vloggers were mandatory things.

@ScreamingValenta just wanted to say that.

You write as though using social media and following vloggers were mandatory things.

They are not but I believe they have manipulated young people to a point where they have become mandatory for them and affected our society.

I think social media has helped lots with MH issues too.
Most bloggers discuss MH how to deal with it, who to talk too.
It often helps me discuss situations with DD by explaining the #Metoo campaign or the walk into the light campaign.
Envy has always been the thief of joy, being a popular teen or not has always been an issue too.
Teach DC to be proud of their achievements they won't look for them by buying makeup.
It is online marketing.

My DD can be quite fragile with anxiety she is now 16. She doesn’t cope well with any stress and I think will struggle in a job particularly if it’s high pressure. Other DD14 is just more resilient in personality. This is the nature vs nurture discussion, 2 DC raised in the same circumstances but so different

Neither of my DC seem to have fallen ‘victim’ to social media. They have an accounts on Snapchat and IG both of which are private have no photos and are more for just chatting with friends, sharing memes (so messaging service) or following art/music/funny shit they like (they liked vines but that has gone). They aren’t bothered about selfies or a lot of what is assumed teenagers do, and from being around their friends for sure not all teens are into all this either. They like SM for some things but aren’t all automatically sucked into a vortex of doom

They both have acquaintances who actively court drama and SM is a tool to do so. So some people will use it in this way too

This is similar for work. Some people may already be predisposed to stress/depression and their job makes it worse, but it might not cause it. 3 other people could do the same job and feel completely differently

Saying that there still needs to be accountability both in the workplace and SM to be responsible for the welfare of others, that is not denied. But I don’t see it as the sole cause unless it’s very clearly the issue ie assault, slavery, awful working conditions. People usually have external factors contributing to stress and depression it would be very hard to hold companies to account for EVERYTHING

Christmas worsens my depression every fecking year. Can I sue Santa Claus?

(Obviously I can't. Don't be so ridiculous).

So we should ban everything just in case someone gets upset by it?

People usually have external factors contributing to stress and depression it would be very hard to hold companies to account for EVERYTHING

It might be but I don't think they should be complicit in playing on insecurity for marketing. An example of this is photoshopping models which seems like it's been done forever but should be pushed by culture and our progress in mental health awareness to stop.

Because it would be incredibly difficult to prove that the company is the sole cause of the mental health issues for one.

They are not but I believe they have manipulated young people to a point where they have become mandatory for them and affected our society.

Older people didn't help.
It's hard for a child to know they don't need to be insta perfect when mum and dad are trying to be quite often.
Hinch has a new sponge? MUST HAVE IT.
Celebrity lost with xxx programme? MUST DO TOO.
Insta says BMW SUV is in? MUST HAVE IT.
Social media just basically took "neigbour has x so I must get better x" to an ultimate level.
And then kids hear "Sweetheart, you don't need all that. You don't need to be insta perfect"
Quite mixed messages there...

Well someone chopping their arm off in a machine at a factory is quite clear cut (excuse the pun).
Actually it isn’t. If the worker disabled safety interlocks and or did something prohibited they can be considered partially or even fully responsible for their own injury. Contrary to popular myth injury at work is not the subject of automatic compo.

Is this not down to parents to teach their children this? Most models are photoshopped she doesn’t look like that really. I had this talk with my DC before they had access to SM at all (pre age 13)

The issue is adults are joining in with it! They are all taking arty photos of their homes on SM so they are in fact encouraging their own children generation to copy them

Can we go after school bullies then, who arguably cause a lifetimes distress? Or workplaces that encourage bad practice and intimidatory atmospheres? A feeling of loss of control in your life is a major cause of mental and physical health problems, these are regularly caused by bad employers.

I’m always a little dubious of blaming recent phenomenon, especially used by young people for all the ills of the world. It’s social media now, generations ago it was films and tv, pop music, newspapers, women reading books! Pinpointing one thing specifically ignores many others.

It's about the (hostile) culture they create.

Even if you actively avoid taking part in anything the people around you do and they become hostile.

So if you're young and having sex with men who watch pornography then you will be under pressure to take part in risky sexual behaviour as the 'norms' have shifted. I can think of hundreds of examples like this.

I would HATE to be young now.

My depression takes a nose dive everytime one of my friends announces that they are pregnant, when we have struggled for so many years to conceive again.

Can I sue them along with whatever social media account I saw it off?

Which companies have been punished in what way for causing which illnesses?

Genuine question as I'd be interested in finding out how easy it was to punish them. I have a feeling it would be tough enough for an illness with notable physical symptoms. Accidents differing from illness that is.

Can I sue them along with whatever social media account I saw it off?

I think the narcissism around pregnancy ever since social media started pushing these huge reveals has definitely been exacerbated. I don't think you could sue obviously but I think if we tried to turn away from this as a culture then it could do a lot for the epidemic of mental illness we face as a society.

@TheAverageJuror

Have you never worked in a workplace where there is bullying, intimation, harrassement, coercion...you name it?

Imagine being a victim to this but having bills to pay and not feeling you can risk quitting?

I don’t think it’s really clear cut though is it where as an injury or whatever and it’s cause usually is.
How would you prove that a certain advert was the initial cause of MH issues? And then who would be liable? For instance, if I was to repost something on social media would I be liable or would the company who’s advert it was be liable?

I think the narcissism around pregnancy ever since social media started pushing these huge reveals has definitely been exacerbated. I don't think you could sue obviously but I think if we tried to turn away from this as a culture then it could do a lot for the epidemic of mental illness we face as a society.

But my mental health is going to take a nose dive, even without social media as I am going to find out anyway.

I don't follow celebrities, all my friends I know in real life, so I am going to find out if someone is pregnant and everytime it hurts because I am unable to do it.

TBF my friends don't do massive reveals, its normally a scan photo. I think the biggest one I have had is one which had their child with a sign saying I am going to be a big brother.

Rather than punishing social media, we should be teaching our children that its a snippet of life that you are seeing which is made up to make them look better. I remember reading that one social media person took over 500 photos to get that perfect shot, then had to spend time editing it, make sure they had the right light etc etc etc.

There are certain things we should be holding social media to account such as hate speech. Possibly the how to guides on committing suicide, but if someone really wants to do it they will find a way.

Social media and vloggers manipulate the feelings of people and make them feel insecure in order to get them to buy things.

sorry but you are being completely ridiculous.

Shall we sue Kate Middleton for looking amazing a few hours after giving birth, and slimmer than she ever was 2 months after her 3rd child? How many young mother feel absolutely crap and have PND - are the likes of Kate to blame?

There has always been some inaccessible standards shown to the mass, you can at best stop companies to do false advertising but you cannot punish people because they make someone else feel insecure.

That's absolutely bonkers.