13 Reason Why Controversy

 
Netflix’s 13 Reasons Why has drawn both the ire and praise from critics, parents, and students over its handling of the topics of suicide, sexual assault, and bullying.
There is something to be said for the show’s popularity; it has been acclaimed by critics, many claiming it sheds light on an often skirted around topic. In fact, the show was recently picked up for a second season. However, the addition of a second season will encounter some problems as well. Since the first season covered all of the events in Jay Asher’s book, the second season will have to stray from the tape by tape format of the first season.
Others have criticised the show and its handling of the topic of suicide, romanticising and dramatizing a heavy subject that many young teenages suffer from. Although the show is rated mature and shows disclaimer warnings [some of which were added after criticism from viewers] before every potentially triggering episode, the show does graphically depict both Hannah Baker’s Suicide and sexual assault. Another thing that has drawn criticism from viewers is the show’s failure to discuss the underlying cause of over 90 percent of suicides: mental illness.
“I think it’s a garbage show. I think it glorifies everything. It romanticises suicide and self harm, and it makes it look like some kind of beautiful, tragic ending that isn’t real,” Marlo Pereyra ‘17 said. “That’s not real. Kids will see this and think “Wow. If I kill myself, everyone’s going to be so upset, everyone’s going to see this and be like, wow, I was a great person”, and it’s putting things out there that makes it look so dramatized, so incredibly dramatized for kids that feel suicidal.”