Amazon “suicide kits” have led to teen deaths

Re:Amazon “suicide kits” have led to teen deaths by amilios on Sunday October 09, 2022 @01:18PM (#33143214)

The article says that the Amazon recommendation algorithm was also recommending along with the sodium nitrite, "a scale to measure a lethal dose, a drug to prevent vomiting, and a book with instructions on how to use the chemical to attempt suicide". This is beyond just suggesting the chemical itself, this is almost suggesting to certain users to commit suicide.

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Re:Amazon “suicide kits” have led to teen deaths by fuckstick on Sunday October 09, 2022 @01:28PM (#33143337)

I mean I don’t automatically believe this bullshit based on the source - it’s coming from a law firm with very specific priorities in producing a narrative.

Maybe their recommendation system was aggregating. Or maybe it was just suggesting specific things the user had viewed or purchased recently.

I’ll withhold judgement until less charged “facts” are out in the open.

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Re:Amazon “suicide kits” have led to teen deaths by x86x87 on Sunday October 09, 2022 @01:25PM (#33143295)

The way I imagine this working is: you buy X,Y and Z. If enough people buy these together (along with other things) the algo will deduce that if you buy X you also probably want Y and Z.

It will recommend them. This is not new and there are plenty examples.

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Re:Amazon “suicide kits” have led to teen deaths by SamPatt on Sunday October 09, 2022 @03:21PM (#33144338)

Serious question: do you think the bundling of products increases the chance of people committing suicide?

Since these suicides are planned, it doesn't seem like needing to buy the products individually presents much of a safeguard.

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