Vulnerable Audiences Research Articles

Joke or counterfeit? Balancing trademark parody and consumer safety in the edibles market

AbstractChildren mistakenly eating tetrahydrocannabinol‐laced gummies thinking they are Halloween candy. Adults overdosing on seemly innocent and fun‐looking “edibles.” These all‐too‐common occurrences are a serious problem in the growing market for cannabis‐related products. A significant part of the risk stems from the broad acceptance and expectation of parody marketing in the field, which has contributed to these dangerous misunderstandings. Importantly, recent changes to trademark law have limited the commercial use of parodies as marks, strengthening the hand of brand owners to police harmful impersonation while preserving legitimate speech. As a result of the more restrictive environment, trademark law and consumer safety rules are increasingly congruent and a greater array of stakeholders with significant financial resources now possess the power and incentive to reduce the danger. This article uses the above cannabis marketing conflict as a framing tool for exploring the limits of trademark parody in an important yet under‐examined context: when safety concerns clash and arguably supersede speech. The existing literature has typically considered parody in innocuous and often noncommercial applications. Such limited review underappreciates instances when trademark confusion or dilution through parody lead to serious health consequences, particularly for vulnerable audiences such as children. Additionally, to the extent that the literature does address cannabis and trademarks, it has generally focused on cannabis branding issues as opposed to infringing the rights of others. This article bridges the gaps. Moreover, it integrates a consideration of the impact of recent Supreme Court cases, Jack Daniel's Properties, Inc. v. VIP Products LLC and Vidal v. Elster, that reflect a tighter circumscription on speech protections for unauthorized use. It concludes with the observation that not all parodies are equal in terms of balancing speech and safety. And with evolving trademark law, there is increasingly an incentive for various stakeholders to collaborate to enhance consumer safety.

Identity of a vulnerable audience in their higher education center: the case of scholarship holders in Peru

Identity of a vulnerable audience in their higher education center: the case of scholarship holders in Peru

Этические аспекты подготовки журналистских материалов о детях и для детской аудитории: гуманистический подход

Thе article examines a two-pronged problem: the need to develop fundamental documents on the Russian media’s observance of humanistic principles, when preparing materials about childhood, as well as the lack of a professional journalistic school within which such approaches are formed and supported. The author turns to scientific research in the field of deontology and philosophy of journalism and comes to the conclusion, that the implementation of tasks to humanize the information space depends not only on the level of the development of media ethics, but also on the will of journalists, the political situation, and the structure of the media market at the stage of its economic transformation. In an aggressive media environment and when the professional journalistic community ignores ethical principles, the most vulnerable audience group subject to negative influence are minors. Today, some editorial offices deliberately deviate from the norms of morality and ethics in the process of creating a potentially “saleable” information product, while children and adolescents, according to statistics, are regularly indirect consumers of non-target content. That is why the author of the article chooses media texts from professional media as an empirical basis, since their authors, unlike many bloggers and content creators on social networks, as editorial staff, are aware of the responsibility not only at the legislative but also at the corporate level. Certain ethical charters and standards ratified by journalistic organizations in Russia contain recommendations for the preparation of media materials that address the topic of childhood directly or indirectly. A detailed analysis of the presented documents allows us to conclude that some provisions adopted in the early 2000s have lost their relevance, and today it is necessary not only to revise their content, but also to raise the question among practitioners about the need to show greater attention to measures of deterring aggressive rhetoric, as well as the question about the introduction of new self-regulation mechanisms.

Trust in a Digital World. The Roles of Media Trust and Ordinary Citizen Cues in Online Disinformation’s Credibility

The perception of disinformation as societal risk has reached a troubling peak amid the COVID-19 pandemic, strategically targeting vulnerable audiences through digital media by mirroring characteristics of vox populi disinformation. This study investigates the conditions under which COVID-19-related disinformation referring to a polarized (refugees) and neutral (runners) out-group appears most credible. In the early stages of the pandemic, we conducted a pre-registered online survey experiment with a representative German sample (N = 1,117). Results indicated that those with low trust in the media judged subtle and completely fabricated types of disinformation as more credible than accurate information. Presenting the article as a social media post from an ordinary user, rather than an official source, had no discernible impact on credibility evaluations; participants accurately assessed the credibility of a random source. We conclude that people are generally able to recognize disinformation—unless they already mistrust the media. This paper addresses why disinformation triggers strong reactions in targeted groups and how it thrives in the participatory digital landscape.

Етичні аспекти проведення рекламних кампаній на міжнародних ринках

The aim of this article is to highlight the ethical aspect of conducting advertising campaigns as one of the most important rules in the formation of an advertising campaign and the strategy of the company as a whole. The article defines the aspects, characteristics, features and seven main types of ethical advertising: truthfulness and accuracy of information; ethical use of psychological techniques; social responsibility; protection of vulnerable audiences; ecological responsibility; compliance with legislation and industry standards; privacy and data protection. The scientific works of domestic scholars on the relevant issue are analyzed. Other, no less important aspects that entrepreneurs and marketers should pay attention to when scaling their business when entering a new market in another country are allocated. The importance of this or that type of ethics in marketing, taking into account the peculiarities of countries for conducting an advertising campaign, is indicated. An analysis of two main strategies for entering international markets is carried out, i. e.: standardized and adaptive strategy. Their definitions, pros, cons and features that you should pay attention to when entering foreign markets are presented. The peculiarities of conducting advertising campaigns in three main world markets of economically leading countries are highlighted: Western (USA and Canada), European (EU countries) and Asian (China, Japan and South Korea). Their detailed characterization is given, taking into account ethnic, cultural, political, historical differences and trends to pay attention to. The importance of ethical marketing in modern media is considered, the responsibility of marketers to potential consumers, society, the environment, as well as the influence of advertising on the formation of stereotypes and on culture in general is emphasized. It is noted that buyers, in turn, also influence brands, their values, policies and advertising campaigns.

How to teach the elderly to detect disinformation: a training experiment with WhatsApp

According to recent studies, most of the Spanish population identifies disinformation as a social problem and believes that it could endanger democracy and the stability of the country. In this context, many institutions point out the need for media literacy campaigns and initiatives that alleviate the possible harmful social effects of the phenomenon, especially among vulnerable audiences. While children and young people are the continuous target of this type of action, few so far have targeted the elderly. This article analyzes the effectiveness of a training action to increase the ability to detect false news in this age group. A 10-day course was designed, and a sample of 1,029 individuals over 50 years of age residing in Spain who are smartphone users was selected. Participants were divided into an experimental group (n=498), who were invited to take the course, and a control group (n=531). An ex ante and ex post study was carried out to determine the effects of the course on their ability to detect false news. The results reveal that those who took the course were more successful in identifying the news as true or false than the members of the control group. The results confirm the opportunity and convenience of designing media literacy actions aimed at those over 50 years of age, a social group particularly exposed to disinformation.

Participant recruitment for paediatric research using social media: A practical 'how-to' guide for researchers.

Social media platforms are being increasingly used to support participant recruitment into paediatric health-related research. This study aimed to develop a multi-phase approach for using social media as a recruitment strategy for paediatric research studies. The process was informed by the authors' prior experiences recruiting for paediatric obesity-related research studies, expertise in social media marketing and digital participant/ patient recruitment. Reflection on these experiences resulted in the iterative creation of a draft process which was further refined. A narrative literature review using a structured search was conducted to refine and augment the content and finalise the process. A six-phase recruitment approach was developed that includes: (i) plan for social media use as a recruitment strategy, (ii) explore relevant ethical considerations to protect the wellbeing of potentially vulnerable groups and create an ethical management plan, (iii) identify and understand the different target audiences and develop the advertising strategy, (iv) develop and design campaign content, (v) implement, monitor and iteratively refine the recruitment campaign, (vi) evaluate the campaign success. Potential activities and key considerations relevant for paediatric research are presented within each phase. Due to the widespread use and diverse characteristics of social media users, social media has the potential to disseminate details of research opportunities to community members who may otherwise not hear about, engage with,and potentially benefit from research participation. Researchers should collaborate with communication experts and target audiences to generate relevant and effective recruitment campaigns. Researchers should implement processes to protect vulnerable audiences' wellbeing at each stage of the process. Recruitment via social media may support wider community participation in research studies designed to improve young people's health.

Une démarche communautaire trans : du sida au Covid-19

Accept-T is a community health association that fights against the consequences of systemic transphobia. It implements collective actions for the rights of trans people and acts as an expert in the field, notably by supporting the production of scientific knowledge, major levers for social transformation. In 2020, by adapting its prevention actions to the context of social and health emergencies, the association has mobilized a body of knowledge from the fight against HIV/AIDS and the struggles for the rights of trans people, aiming at empowering people and fighting for the improvement of their quality of life. This "field" associative experience questions the deployment of prevention actions targeting particularly vulnerable audiences : with which tools to adapt the action, why and how to define the audiences to be targeted? Through the analysis of two actions carried out by the association in 2020, this article aims to propose operational avenues for prevention aimed at audiences that are stigmatized and far from care, and to discuss the notion of a population-based approach in prevention. These two actions are part of combined prevention strategies, made possible by the association's experience and the mobilization of strong community links. They include the whole socio-economic environment of the people and the complexity of the determinants of health in the communities. Their description also makes it possible to clarify the role of community health associations as public health actors.

Santé sexuelle et discriminations croisées chez les hommes afro-latino-caribéens ayant des rapports sexuels avec des hommes à Bruxelles

The starting point of our article is the observation that the target group of Afro-Latin-Caribbean men, who have sex with men, is not reached by sexual health promotion programs for MSM, nor by those aimed at Afro-Latino-Caribbean audiences. Indeed, it seems to be in a blind spot of prevention programs designed by key audiences. The objective of our article is to understand the vulnerabilities of this group, the impacts of its invisibility and the intersectoral discrimination (homophobia, racism, …) of which itis victim on the management of his sexual health, in order to highlight ways to improve prevention programs towards this group. Our study highlighted some vulnerabilities inherent in being Afro-Latino-Caribbean MSM and the impact of the intersectional discrimination on the management of their sexual health. We have also demonstrated the invisibility suffered by these audiences and their request to be recognized in their specificities, particularly through the creation of secure places that would be entirely dedicated to them. This project allowed us to highlight the importance, for minority audiences, of being visibilized and to have their specificities recognized in sexual health promotion programs. This is even more important when they are victims of multiple discrimination. It also showed the importance of implementing actions that promote the empowerment of vulnerable audiences.

Tracking teen food marketing: Participatory research to examine persuasive power and platforms of exposure

Food marketing has long been recognized to influence children's food preferences and consumption patterns, yet only in recent years have teenagers been recognized as a uniquely vulnerable audience for food marketing appeals. Marketing pressures on teenagers around food promotion continue to intensify, yet little is known about the marketing channels and specific persuasive appeals targeting this audience. Given this research gap, this participatory research study engages teenagers to capture the food marketing targeting them and to identify its persuasive “power” and platforms of exposure. Using a specially designed mobile app called GrabFM! (Grab Food Marketing!) teenagers (ages 13–17, n = 309) identified and tagged examples of teen-targeted food marketing in their physical and digital environments over a 7-day period. Results reveal that: 1) digital platforms dominate teen-targeted food marketing, with over three quarters of the ads found on Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, ad YouTube; 2) branded beverages, fast food, and candy/chocolate comprise the majority (72%) of ads; and 3) the most powerful techniques for attracting teens attention are visual style, special offer and theme. In 40% of advertisements submitted, teenagers used only one indicator to identify “teen-targeted”, although older teenagers (ages 15–17) were more likely to report multiple indicators per ad. This study provides important insights into the platforms targeting teenagers (and their relative importance), the food products endorsed, and the specific appeals that teenagers find persuasive. For the purposes of monitoring, it is helpful to know that digital platforms comprise the majority of teen-directed food promotions, and that the Big Food brands have been joined by countless smaller players to sell food to teens.

The Central Role of Relevant Health Information for Promoting Cancer Prevention and Control

Despite major scientific gains in important new knowledge about risks, biological processes, prevention practices, and advanced treatments for many forms of cancer, epidemiological evidence shows that cancer continues to evolve as an increasingly dangerous health issue responsible for unacceptably high levels of death and disability world-wide. Sadly, many major advances in cancer knowledge have not been adequately translated into needed personal and institutional actions that could significantly reduce cancer morbidity and mortality. Disseminating relevant and actionable cancer-related health information to those who are confronting cancer is essential for promoting needed cancer prevention and control. Cancer information dissemination efforts should clearly and persuasively communicate complex cancer information to diverse and often vulnerable audiences who desperately need relevant information about key cancer issues, including cancer prevention, early detection, informed diagnosis, cancer treatment, and successful cancer survivorship. Strategic health communication can build needed awareness about cancer risks and responses, promote trust, cooperation, and personal engagement, as well as support informed cancer decision-making. Communicating meaningfully with those who are at greatest risk from cancer, such as members of the most vulnerable segments of society who suffer from high levels of cancer morbidity and mortality, is especially important for promoting cancer prevention and control. However, effective communication with members of these high-risk populations is often fraught with communication barriers. Since many members of at-risk groups are among the poorest, lowest educated, and most disenfranchised members of society, they may encounter serious challenges to accessing and making sense of relevant health information. They often experience health literacy deficits that make it difficult for them to understand complex cancer information. Their cultural backgrounds may not support their following recommended cancer prevention and control health and life-style practices. They may experience economic limitations that make it difficult to access needed care, as well as to navigate complicated and bureaucratic health care systems. This review and policy article examines these serious challenges to effectively communicating relevant health information to vulnerable populations and suggests strategies for enhancing strategic use of communication messages and media to promote cancer prevention and control.

Back to live: Returning to in-person engagement with arts and culture in the Liverpool City Region.

On July 19th 2021, the UK government lifted the COVID-19 restrictions that had been in place since March 2020, including wearing masks, social distancing, and all other legal requirements. The return to in-person events has been slow and gradual, showing that audiences are still cautious when (and if) they resume engaging in arts and culture. Patterns of audience behavior have also changed, shifting toward local attendance, greater digital and hybrid engagement, and openness to event format changes. As the arts and cultural industry recovers from the pandemic, it is important to adopt an audience-oriented approach and look at the changing patterns of engaging in arts and culture. This study aims to better understand the impact of the pandemic on the patterns of cultural and arts engagement. Eight qualitative interviews were conducted to explore the changes in arts and cultural engagement since the restrictions were lifted, focusing particularly on the audience's experiences of returning to in-person arts and cultural events in the Liverpool City Region (LCR). Using framework analysis, three themes were identified from the data: The new normal: reframing pre-pandemic and pandemic experiences of arts and culture, Re-adjusting to in-person provision, and Moving forward: online and blended provision. The findings show that the pandemic altered the ways that people engage in arts and culture. The "new normal," a blend of pandemic and pre-pandemic experiences, illustrates how the pandemic has highlighted and reconfigured the importance of arts and culture, in terms of personal and cultural identity. Resuming in-person engagement after a long break, participants noted that they were able to feel more like themselves again. Arts and culture were perceived to be beneficial in rebuilding personal resilience and confidence. Engaging in arts and culture, following the isolating experience of the pandemic, has also helped participants feel reconnected to others through their shared experiences. Finally, the findings suggest that online provision remains vital for many, ensuring wider inclusivity, particularly for vulnerable audiences. At the same time, it is important to acknowledge the barriers to online inclusion and the possibility of this resulting in a growing digital divide.

'It makes you not want to eat': Perceptions of anti-obesity public health campaigns in individuals diagnosed with an eating disorder.

Recent research has highlighted the potentially deleterious effects of anti-obesity public health campaigns on vulnerable audiences such as those at risk of, or diagnosed with, eating disorders (ED). The qualitative experiences of campaigns in this population group have been little explored. Twelve interviews were conducted with participants either currently or previously diagnosed with an ED using the Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis approach. Participants were shown a series of real-world public health campaigns and, using a semi-structured interview guide, asked about their responses to the images used. Several themes emerged from the data, including the effect of campaigns on participants, perceived effect on others, and general campaign attributes. It was evident that participants felt that anti-obesity campaigns had the potential to confirm ED thoughts and behaviours, and could act as potential triggers. Participants also felt that they could impact vulnerable groups (e.g., young audiences) and stigmatise those living in larger bodies. Campaigns addressing overweight and obesity should consider reframing these conditions and care must be taken to avoid causing potential harm to vulnerable audiences.

OpenMinds on Mental Health Literacy: A Reflective Journey of a Medical Student

AimsAs a medical student from a local university, the first author undertook a mental health education course, i.e. OpenMinds at the King's College University. The aim of the course is to improve literacy about key mental health issues that children and adolescents face and the stigma against mental illnesses. Upon completion of training, a medical student will be able to lead intervention workshops to share the mental health knowledge with local school audiences on these issues, promote early detection of mental illnesses among the audiences and their peers with the aim of improving health-seeking behaviour by providing information of where to access help to reduce the duration of untreated illness. This article is aimed to describe the personal reflective experience of a medical student and the lessons learnt.MethodsThe OpenMinds course was an eight-week workshop on important mental health topics such as depression, anxiety, coping strategies and psychosis. This was followed by a session on effective teaching detailing various techniques including maintaining children's concentration, increasing engagement by utilising different learning techniques, safeguarding and maintaining well-being during conversations about difficult and sensitive topics.ResultsAfter attending the OpenMinds educational workshop, the first author had delivered three workshops (one primary school and two secondary schools) as part of the bigger organising team from the other university. Overall, the verbal feedback from the local schools on the workshops was positive (Kirkpatrick's evaluation outcome level one). The challenge faced was virtual teaching due to the COVID-19 pandemic which meant not being able to read facial expressions or body language while delivering information. This limitation could be mitigated by having a trained teacher moderating the sessions on-site and making sure the workshops ran smoothly. Online lessons emphasised the use of technology which was proven to be useful as videos and other audiovisual aids had the ability to keep the children engaged and provide different sources of learning concurrently.ConclusionHaving participated in this course, the first author has learned teaching skills and a better way of communicating mental health issues to vulnerable audiences. Although face-to-face workshops are still not possible at the time of writing, the first author is keen to set up an OpenMinds branch at his university and be able to share with his fellow colleagues these skills in the future.

Tools for Overcoming Oppression: Plain Language and Human-Centered Design for Social Justice

<bold xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">Background:</b> Technical and professional communication (TPC) audiences are increasingly international and intercultural. Some of these audiences, such as US asylum applicants, may be vulnerable and suffering trauma following violations of their human rights and dignity. <bold xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">Literature review:</b> TPC has the potential to either intensify the oppression previously experienced by these audiences or empower them to act for their own well-being. Therefore, technical and professional instructors and practitioners have an ethical responsibility to communicate with these audiences through methods that are socially just. <bold xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">Research questions:</b> 1. Are the language and design strategies in the I-589 application and instructions appropriate for their audience from an HCD perspective? 2. If not, how can the documents be revised to correct any failings in the pursuit of social justice? <bold xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">Research methodology:</b> This article uses adapted plain language guidelines combined with human-centered design guiding principles to perform a qualitative document analysis and explore revisions of the application and instructions. <bold xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">Results:</b> Analysis shows that the I-589 documents are not appropriate for their audience and proposes revisions to correct major issues. <bold xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">Conclusions:</b> The findings of this analysis demonstrate a need for continued integration of plain language and human-centered design in practice and pedagogy, research surrounding the ways in which technical and professional communicators should balance the needs of vulnerable audiences with the interests of powerful stakeholders, and meaningful collaboration between them and government institutions.

The relation between knowledge and concern: A global study of children and COVID-19.

COVID-19 messages vary around the world, and populations receive these messages in different ways. Children are a vulnerable audience, especially in terms of risk communication. As messages are being developed, communicated, and disseminated about this pandemic, it is important to know the relation between COVID-19 knowledge and concern among preadolescents. In Spring 2020, children (N= 4,249) from 8 global regions completed an online survey (Mage= 11.0, 54% female, 46% male). We assessed children's COVID-19 knowledge by asking about prevention and symptoms, as well as myths about the virus. We also assessed children's concerns by asking about worries about self and others getting sick, missing school, and interruption of activities. Our analyses revealed different relations between knowledge and concern by region. Among children from Sub-Saharan Africa, the Arabian region, Asia, and North America, there was a positive relation between knowledge and concern. For those from Latin America, Oceania, Europe, and Southeast Asia, the relation was flat or negative. When producing messages for children during a public health crisis, health communicators must know that more knowledge is not always associated with less concern.

Marital Status and Gender Differences in End-of-Life Planning

Less than half of older adults make formal preparations to control difficult life transitions, yet planning can mitigate negative outcomes that accompany changes. To better understand multiple forms of end-of-life planning behaviors and the effect of demographic characteristics, we use data from the Understanding America Study (N=1812; aged 60+). We explored gender and marital differences in whether respondents created a will, living will, or declared a durable power of attorney for health care (DPOAHC), and who was chosen as DPOAHC (i.e., spouse, child, other relative). T-tests determined no significant gender differences in declaring a DPOAHC, creating a will, or living will. An analysis of variance (F=13.422, df=3, p<0.001) found married respondents more likely to declare a DPOAHC than separated/divorced (p<0.001) and never married respondents (p=0.002). Divorced respondents were less likely to declare a DPOAHC compared to widowed respondents (p<0.001) and widowed respondents were more likely compared to never married respondents (p=0.001). Additional analyses found the same pattern in who created a will or living will. A follow-up analysis of variance found no gender differences within marital status categories (i.e., married men versus married women). Overall, respondents who were never married were less likely to have prepared any forms of end-of-life planning. These results highlight the importance of having close relationships on the level of preparedness for end-of-life planning. Additional implications include increasing awareness about end-of-life planning for more vulnerable audiences. Future analyses will integrate findings regarding financial DPOAHC and examine other socio-demographic characteristics, such as education and race.

The sources and correlates of exposure to vaccine-related (mis)information online

ObjectivesTo assess the quantity and type of vaccine-related information Americans consume online and its relationship to social media use and attitudes toward vaccines. MethodsAnalysis of individual-level web browsing data linked with survey responses from representative samples of Americans collected between October 2016 and February 2019. ResultsWe estimate that approximately 84% of Americans visit a vaccine-related webpage each year. Encounters with vaccine-skeptical content are less frequent; they make up only 7.5% of vaccine-related pageviews and are encountered by only 18.5% of people annually. However, these pages are more likely to be published by untrustworthy sources. Moreover, skeptical content exposure is more common among people with less favorable vaccine attitudes. Finally, usage of online intermediaries is frequently linked to vaccine-related information exposure. Google use is differentially associated with subsequent exposure to non-skeptical content, whereas exposure to vaccine-skeptical webpages is associated with usage of webmail and, to a lesser extent, Facebook. ConclusionsOnline exposure to vaccine-skeptical content is relatively rare, but vigilance is required given the potential for exposure among vulnerable audiences.

A QUIET REVOLUTION? REFLECTING ON THE POTENTIALITY AND ETHICS OF MINDFULNESS IN A JUNIOR SCHOOL

ABSTRACT This article examines the potentiality, acceptability and ethical considerations of a mindfulness-based intervention (MBI) for supporting pupils’ mental well-being in a junior school. To date, research has predominantly focused on the psychological or behavioural benefits of MBIs rather than broader and more philosophical issues of implementation. The findings reported in this article are positioned alongside recent debates critiquing the neoliberal agenda of ‘privatising’ well-being and downplaying the role of the institution and its cultural context. The study synthesises the perspectives of pupils and teachers to provide more in-depth insights into the everyday realities of MBIs in educational contexts. The study highlights and critically examines the inherent ethical dilemmas of implementing MBIs in contexts that include vulnerable and conscripted audiences in particular. As such, this article argues the case for those individuals involved in developing, administering and/or advocating MBIs to acknowledge these ethical dilemmas with greater transparency and integrity and consider the aims of MBIs in relation to their potential instrumental or holistic possibilities and processes of ‘schoolification’.

"Pretend Crazy": comments surrounding romanticizing mental illness on YouTube

Discerning whether one has mental illness is not an uncommon conundrum even if it is rarely discussed. Mental illness is highly stigmatised and discernment often happens privately using materials from online sources. Hence, narratives presented in the online space can heavily influence how audiences interpret their mental health. Unhelpful descriptions can be misleading and cause further distress to vulnerable audiences or cause further stigmatisation against the mentally ill. Using an online comment scraper, we extracted the comments section of two popular videos that discuss the issue of romanticizing mental illness and how some people might be ‘faking’ it. Then, using thematic analysis, the comments were organised into themes in reaction to specific video content and discussed. The following surfaced as strong points of discussion in the commentary: vagueness of discerning what is a mental illness experience, trivialization of emotional distress, and what descriptive terms are appropriate and congruent for describing mental illness. Finally, some opportunities for future endeavours to address support for, education, and discernment of mental illness are highlighted.