Man sent to psychiatric institution for Facebook hoax
Posted by: Jon Ben-Mayor on 03/21/2015 03:28 AM
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Shane Tusch, 48, from San Mateo, California was seemingly having a bad week, a week made worse after the implementation of Facebook's recently updated suicide prevention program and the post of an off-handed bit of frustration venting.
According to the BBC, Facebook extended its suicide prevention program in February, enabling concerned readers to flag up posts that indicate someone may be suicidal and get help from trained professionals.
Once alerted, Facebook contacts the potentially suicidal person the next time he or she logs on and offers ways to get help.
Or if Facebook thinks there is an "imminent threat" it may contact local police and ask them to carry out a "welfare check". But Tusch's experiment underscores the fact that it's hard to tell a hoax from the truth on social media.
Be careful what you post - some busybody, or worse someone who just doesn't like you may get you locked up for a simple joke.
Source: Engadget
According to the BBC, Facebook extended its suicide prevention program in February, enabling concerned readers to flag up posts that indicate someone may be suicidal and get help from trained professionals.
Once alerted, Facebook contacts the potentially suicidal person the next time he or she logs on and offers ways to get help.
Or if Facebook thinks there is an "imminent threat" it may contact local police and ask them to carry out a "welfare check". But Tusch's experiment underscores the fact that it's hard to tell a hoax from the truth on social media.
Be careful what you post - some busybody, or worse someone who just doesn't like you may get you locked up for a simple joke.
Source: Engadget
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