trigger warning

A notice placed before the beginning of media content (usually an online article, e-mail, or post) to warn of potential traumatic triggers it contains.

Noun

  1. A notice placed before the beginning of media content (usually an online article, e-mail, or post) to warn of potential traumatic triggers it contains.
    • One film presentation group for Teeth, which features rape scenes, also chose to include “trigger warnings” and bring in a representative from a sexual assault centre as a resource for the class. - 2013, Aalya Ahmad,...
    • I applaud the sensitivity and awareness demonstrated by those who take the time to put a trigger warning, for example, on a link posted on Facebook dealing with issues such as sexual abuse or violence. - 2013, Caitlin...
    • In its policies about posting, it asks users to include “trigger warnings” about content that “involves sexual assault or violence towards women and other marginalized groups, which may distress or cause readers to be...

    Synonyms: content warning

Forms

trigger warnings