“ None of You Cared Enough ”: The Problematic Moralizing of 13 Reasons Why
The reason the program has provoked such extensive debate regarding its portrayal of suicide is because the relative risk of copycat suicide is higher among younger viewers , particularly 15 – 19 year olds ; the typical age group of high school students ( Gould et al . 1270 ). It is also worth noting that social learning theory “ purports that similarity between the viewer and role model will influence whether or not televised behaviors are modeled ” ( Duvall et al . 112 ). Because the vast majority of 13 Reasons Why ’ s extensive ensemble are teenagers , the series has the potential to exert significant influence among younger audiences . This was demonstrated when a school superintendent in Florida reported an increase in suicidal behavior among students following the premiere of the program ’ s first season , with several students specifically identifying 13 Reasons Why as a trigger and motivator for their behavior ( Balingit , “ Educators and School Psychologists Raise Alarms about ‘ 13 Reasons Why ’”). However , this is not to say that suicide should not be discussed in 13 Reasons Why or other popular media , or that the program itself is without any merit . The program depicts a considerable number of interracial relationships , which remain underrepresented in popular television ( Craig-Henderson 71 ), and actively rebukes the practice of victim blaming , in which survivors of violent crimes such as sexual assault are blamed by authorities and peers for their trauma ( George and Martínez 110 ). However , while it is observed that “ teenagers will be able to connect with the show ’ s portrayals of peer pressure , toxic masculinity , and slut-shaming ,” 13 Reasons Why ’ s placing “ responsibility for a person ’ s suicide on the survivors of suicide loss , creat [ ing ] a false illusion that a suicidal person can be in control after her death , and offer [ ing ] no alternatives ” ( Martinelli , “ 13 Reasons Why ’ s Controversial Depiction of Teen Suicide Has School Counselors Picking Up the Pieces ”) is undeniably dangerous and , despite the best intentions of 13 Reasons
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