‘Kids Are Dying. How Are These Sites Still Allowed?’

<p><i>This episode contains details about suicide deaths and strong language. </i></p><p>A few years ago, a website about suicide appeared. On it, not only do people talk about wanting to die, but they share, at great length, how they are going to do it.</p><p>Times reporters were able to identify 45 people who killed themselves after spending time on the site, several of whom were minors. The true number is likely to be higher.</p><p>We go inside the Times investigation into the website, and ask how and why it is still allowed to operate.</p><p><i>If you are having thoughts of suicide or are concerned that someone you know may be having those thoughts, in the United States call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255 (TALK) or go to</i><a href="https://www.speakingofsuicide.com/resources/"><i> SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources</i></a><i> for a list of additional resources. Go</i><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/article/suicide-prevention-helplines.html"><i> here</i></a><i> for resources outside the United States.</i></p><p>Guest: <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/by/megan-twohey?smid=pc-thedaily">Megan Twohey</a>, an investigative reporter for The New York Times; and <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/by/gabriel-dance?smid=pc-thedaily">Gabriel J.X. Dance</a>, deputy investigations editor for The Times.</p><p>Background reading: </p><ul><li>The Times investigation found that<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/12/09/us/where-the-despairing-log-on.html"> the suicide website had the trappings of social media</a>, a young audience and explicit content that others don’t allow.</li></ul><p><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/newsletters/signup/NTTD?smid=pc-thedaily">Sign up here</a> to get The Daily in your inbox each morning. And for an exclusive look at how the biggest stories on our show come together, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/newsletters/the-daily?module=inline">subscribe to our newsletter</a>. </p><p>For more information on today’s episode, visit <a href="http://nytimes.com/thedaily?