Content Warnings

The Basics

Content warnings are important as they give the audience a chance to prepare themselves to engage with difficult content or avoid it altogether to prevent harm. Not all work needs to have a content warning. Content warnings should be used if the work contains something which may cause an adverse reaction, either physical (e.g. epilepsy or sensory-processing differences) and/or mental (graphic or traumatic content). There is a misconception around content warnings (or “trigger warnings”) that mislead people into thinking these warnings are just designed to avoid discomfort. In reality, content warnings help prevent potential physical or psychological harm for people with disabilities like epilepsy, anxiety/stress disorders (especially those related to past trauma), or sensory processing differences.

In order to give someone a chance to decide whether or not to engage with a possibly distressing topic, a content warning should be given at the earliest possible opportunity.

Guidelines

 Here’s where to include content warning based on the type of artwork or media:

  • Within a gallery or virtual exhibition: Post text at the entrance to the physical or digital space that indicates that there are works within the exhibition that contain content warnings. List the type of content that requires a warning (e.g. flashing lights, references to specific types of trauma.) Be thoughtful about where those artwork are placed within the space, so visitors might have the option to skip those works, if they chose.

  • Videos: Under the title card information, the beginning of the transcript, at the beginning of the video, and not embedded within the media description. 

  • Audio: Under the title card information and the beginning of the transcript, not embedded within the audio description.

  • Image: Under the title card information, not embedded within the image description.

  • Writing: Under the byline, before the content.


Please note: The above recommendations are not set in stone as each work is different and may not require a content warning in multiple places. The important thing to know is that content warnings must be given before the viewer engages with potentially harmful content. For example, if you have a video that shows graphic content on-screen but is not described in the audio, you will need content warnings at the beginning of the video and under the title card, but not in the transcript. 


Also note: content warnings should be separate from image/video descriptions. We want to make sure that everybody reads the content warnings, not just people who read image/video descriptions.

Examples

Content warning: Discussion of self-harm, including child self-harm.

Video Description: An outdoor setting framed by broken furniture and a concrete slab. In the foreground, glass and ceramic dishware fly in from off-screen to shatter on the concrete, piling up as the video plays. | Video as described by the artist 

Video Still Alt Text: Broken furniture, shattered glass and ceramic dishware are piled outside on a concrete slab.

Learn More

Check out these resources for more information about content warnings: