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Samaritans Mental Health Facebook

Samaritans suspends controversial Radar app

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By Jennifer Faull, Deputy Editor

November 8, 2014 | 2 min read

The Samaritans has suspended its Radar app after a continued backlash from Twitter users over privacy and safety.

The app notifies users if their friends are using language on social networks that indicates they are feeling depressed or suicidal.

Following the October launch users raised concerns that Samaritans was receiving alerts to such messages, even though the charity insisted that it was only followers who would have already seen the messages.

A statement from Joe Ferns, executive director of policy, research and development, Samaritans read: “Following the broad range of feedback and advice Samaritans has received since the launch of the Samaritans Radar app on 29 October 2014, including the serious concerns raised by some people with mental health conditions using Twitter, we have made the decision to suspend the application at this time for further consideration.

“We care passionately about supporting vulnerable people in a range of ways, and know it is important we get Samaritans Radar right.”

It apologised “to anyone who has inadvertently been caused any distress” adding that there is still an important need to find ways to support vulnerable people online.

“We will use the time we have now to engage in further dialogue with a range of partners, including in the mental health sector and beyond in order to evaluate the feedback and get further input. We will also be testing a number of potential changes and adaptations to the app to make it as safe and effective as possible for both subscribers and their followers.”

The app kicked off of a six-year strategy from the charity to create more digital communications.

Samaritans Mental Health Facebook

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