'13 Reasons Why' a conversation starter for parents, teens

As Netflix prepares to launch the second season of a show laden with very heavy themes, parents and teachers are struggling with how to set boundaries in the age of streaming TV.
Posted 5/7/2018, 10:10:02 PM Updated 9/23/2025, 7:52:54 PM

NON-LIFE THREATENING INJURIES.

AT THIS POINT THERE IS NO

EVIDENCE THAT THE INCIDENTS ARE

RELATED.

>>> IT IS A SHOW WITH HEAVY

CONTENT.

SUICIDE, SEX AND DRUGS.

THE POPULAR SEASON '13 REASONS

WHY' WILL BE LAUNCHING ITS

SECOND SEASON ON JUNE 8. WE

SPOKE WITH YOUTH ADVOCATES AND

COUNSELORS ABOUT HOW THEY

SHOULD BE HANDLED.

AMANDA LAMB HAS MORE.

>> Reporter: OUR PARENTS DID

NOT HAVE TO DEAL WITH THIS

CONTENT STREAMING ON THE

INTERNET BUT WAKE COUNTY

SCHOOLS ARE SO CONCERNED ABOUT

THIS SHOW, '13 REASONS WHY' ,

THEY ARE URGING PARENTS NOT TO

LET THEIR KIDS WATCH IT.

>> Reporter: THE WAKE COUNTY

SCHOOL SYSTEM SENT A NOTE TO

PARENTS SAYING THAT THEY DO NOT

BELIEVE THAT THE SHOW '13

REASONS WHY' IS APPROPRIATE.

>> THE TOPICS COVERED ARE FOR

MATURE AUDIENCES.

>> Reporter: BUT KEEPING KIDS

AWAY FROM THE SHOW IS

CHALLENGING.

>> THE CONCEPT OF TRYING TO

STOP YOUR KIDS FROM SEEING

SOMETHING THAT STREAMS LIVE

ONLINE IS AKIN TO STOPPING A

HOSE.

>> Reporter: KELLY IS A MIDDLE

SCHOOL CANCEL AT CARY ACADEMY.

WHEN THE FIRST SEASON OF THE

SHOW CAME OUT, THE SCHOOL SENT

A NOTICE TO PARENTS GIVING THEM

A HEADS UP ON THE CONTENT AND

ENCOURAGING THEM TO DISCUSS THE

SHOW WITH THEIR CHILDREN.

>> I THINK THAT IS THE PART

WHERE THE KEY TO MAKING THIS

HEALTHY IS TO HELP YOUR CHILD

INTERPRET WHAT IS HAPPENING AND

LOOK AT IT IN A BROADER

PERSPECTIVE.

>> WE DON'T EVER WANT TO SEE

YOUNG PEOPLE FEEL LIKE SUICIDE

IS AN ANSWER TO A PROBLEM.

>> Reporter: A COMMUNITY

ADVOCATE SHOW THE DETAILS

DETAILS TOPICS LIKE RAPE AND

VIOLENCE THAT COULD BE

DANGEROUS FOR KIDS THAT HAVE

EXPERIENCED TRAUMA OR

DEPRESSION.

>> THIS COULD BE A TRIGGER. WE

DON'T ALWAYS HAVE THE

OPPORTUNITY TO KNOW WHEN YOUNG

PEOPLE ARE STRUGGLING.

SO FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE IT IS

NOT SOMETHING WE WOULD ADVOCATE

FOR KIDS TO WATCH.

>> Reporter: THE CONSENSUS

AMONG MOST EDUCATORS IS THAT IF

YOU CAN PREVENT KIDS FROM

WATCHING IT, YOU SHOULD.

WHEN THE FIRST SEASON CAME OUT

I DID NOT KNOW ABOUT IT.

I FOUND OUT ABOUT IT AFTERWARDS

AND WE HAD DISCUSSIONS THEN.

THERAPISTS SAY THESE

DISCUSSIONS SHOULD BE HAPPENING

IN REAL TIME IF YOU CHOOSE TO

LET THEM SEE IT.

>> IT ABSOLUTELY IS.

© WRAL