Trigger Warning

A trigger warning, also called TW, content note, or CN, alerts readers in advance to content that may cause strong negative reactions in some people. This can include topics such as violence, abuse, self-harm, death, or other distressing material. The aim is not to dramatize the content, but to allow affected people to decide for themselves whether and when they want to engage with it.

The term “trigger” comes from psychology, but in everyday use it is often applied more broadly. Not every discomfort is a trauma trigger; even so, a warning can be helpful and responsible. A good trigger warning should be as specific as possible about the subject, for example “Trigger Warning: Blood” or “TW: sexual violence.”