Suicide and Self-harm

WeChat prohibits content depicting or encouraging self-harm or suicide. Self-harm refers to the intentional and direct injuring of the body, including self-mutilation and eating disorders. Depiction or facilitation of self-harm elevates risk for vulnerable users, can trigger distress, and may have knock-on Protecting users requires removing instructions, challenges, and graphic materialconcerning self-harm or suicide, minimizing exposure, and directing people towards professional help. This reduces real-world harm and supports community well-being, while allowing for supportive, recovery-oriented conversation.

Graphic depiction of self-harm or suicide

We do not allow graphic portrayals of self-injury, wounds, or real-time acts of self-harmor suicide, including highly realistic gore/dramatizations.

Encouraging or instructing on self-harm or suicide

We do not allow content that encourages suicide or self-harm that might lead others to engage in similar behavior. This includes:

a) encouraging, praising, normalizing, or romanticizing self-harm or suicide as a solution;

b) providing methods, instructions, tips, or “how-to” guidance (including advice to conceal self-harm or evade help);

c) organizing, facilitating, or procuring means for self-harm (including coordinated plans, pacts, or distribution of tools); or

d) pressuring others to self-harm (directly or indirectly), including threats, dares, or coercion.

Suicide challenges

We do not allow content that calls for self-injury or suicide of a specific person or group of people. This includes:

a) creating, naming, sharing, or participating in challenges, games, hoaxes, dares, countdowns, or role-play scenarios that encourage or stage self-harm or suicide;

b) recruiting others to participate in self-harm activities, especially minors; ranking or rewarding participation; or

c) coordinating dates, times, or locations for participation.

Targeting victims or survivors of self-harm or suicide

We do not allow content that identifies and negatively targets victims or survivors of self-harm or suicide seriously, humorously, or rhetorically.

Exceptions

We want WeChat to be a space where people can share their experiences, raise awareness about these issues, and seek support from one another, which is why we may, at our discretion, allow people to discuss suicide and self-injury in limited situations which do not involve encouraging or promoting suicide or self-injury.

If you require assistance relating to self-harm or suicide, whether for yourself or others, we encourage you to refer to the resources provided by Befrienders Worldwide, which includes information on suicide hotlines in various countries.