loading . . . Curiosity killed the trigger warning Example of an online trigger warning - Getty Images
For the first time, a new study has tested the effectiveness of trigger warnings in real life scenarios, revealing that the vast majority of young adults choose to ignore them.
A new Flinders University study has found that nearly 90% of young people who saw a trigger warning still chose to view the content saying that they did so out of curiosity, rather than because they felt emotionally prepared or protected.
The findings published in the _Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry_ aligned with a growing body of lab based research suggesting that trigger warnings rarely lead to the avoidance of potentially distressing material.
The study tracked 261 participants aged 17 to 25 over a seven-day period who were asked to keep a daily diary noting when they encountered trigger warnings and whether they chose to approach or avoid the content.
College of Education, Psychology, Dr Victoria Bridgland, from the College of Education, Psychology and Social Work
Lead author and lecturer in psychology, Dr Victoria Bridgland, says the results challenge the assumption that trigger warnings serve as a protective tool for vulnerable individuals.
“Trigger warnings seem to foster a ‘forbidden fruit’ effect for many people whereby when something is off-limits, it often becomes more tempting,” says Dr Bridgland from the College of Education, Psychology and Social Work.
“This may be because negative or disturbing information tends to stand out and feel more valuable or unique compared to everyday information.
“And since trigger warnings are often short and vague, sometimes as simple as just “TW”, they leave a gap in knowledge about what’s coming.
“That gap can spark curiosity and make people want to look, just to find out what they’re missing.”
The study also showed no significant relationship between mental health risk markers—such as trauma history, PTSD symptoms, and other psychopathological traits – and the likelihood of avoiding content flagged with a warning.
In fact, people with higher levels of PTSD, anxiety, or depression were no more likely to avoid content with trigger warnings than anyone else.
“Trigger warnings are widely used across social media platforms and educational institutions, often with the best intentions,” she says.
“But our research shows that their impact may be quite different from what people expect.
“If most individuals are approaching the content anyway, and vulnerable groups aren’t avoiding it more than others, then we need to reconsider how and why we use these warnings.”
The study’s implications are particularly relevant in the context of online mental health strategies, where trigger warnings have become a common feature.
While they may signal care and consideration, the evidence suggests they do little to prevent exposure to distressing material.
Instead, they may simply pique curiosity, leading users to engage with content they might otherwise have ignored.
Dr Bridgland says further research is needed to explore alternative approaches to supporting mental health online.
“We need to move beyond assumptions and look at what actually works,” she says.
“Trigger warnings might not be overtly harmful, but they also might not be helping in the way we think they are.
“For example, many people who saw clips of the recent assassination of Charlie Kirk were left haunted by the images despite seeing warnings beforehand.”
“It’s time to explore more effective interventions that genuinely support people’s wellbeing.”
“Social media platforms should consider inbuilt tools users can seek in cases where they encounter graphic content.”
The article, _‘_ _I’m always curious”: Tracking young adults exposure and responses to social media trigger warnings in daily life’_, by Victoria M.E. Bridgland, Ella K. Moeck and Melanie K.T. Takarangi, was published in _Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry._ DOI: 10.1016/j.jbtep.2025.102040
**Acknowledgements:** This research was funded by The Breakthrough Mental Health Research Foundation. https://news.flinders.edu.au/blog/2025/09/30/curiosity-killed-the-trigger-warning/
