What is Trigger Warning / Content Note?
Ko tētahi whakamōhio poto i mua mō tētahi kōrero, wāhanga rānei e tohu ana ki ngā kaupapa e kaha te whakararuraru i te hinengaro o te kaipānui. Hei tauira, ngā kaupapa e pā ki te pūmau ā-hinengaro, te whakahoa i te tangata, te mate i ngā taikaha, me ētahi atu mea kino.
Ko te whakatūtū/tohutohu ihirangi (TW) rānei he whakamārama poto i mua ake nei e tohu ana i ngā mea ka taea te whakaputa urupare hinengaro kaha, ā, e whakaarohia ana e te hunga whai wheako ōrite ki te whai wāhi ki te kōrero. I roto i ngā pūrākau romance, ka kapi tēnei i ngā kaupapa pēnei i te noho kāore i te whakaaetanga o te tangata ki te āhuaā, te patungaā-hinengaro, te whakaatu i te mōmori, te mōmori, me ētahi atu kaupapa kaha. Ko te whāinga ehara ki te aukati i te kōrero, engari ki te whakaute i te haumōre hinengaro o ngā kaipānui mā te whakarato whai wāhitanga ki te whakarereketanga o te whai wāhitanga. He mahi pai te mārama ki te tangata, te reo e pai ai te mārama, me te tūnga ki te wāhi e kitea ai te whakamārama i mua i te taunga ki te raupapa.
Usage example
Ki te timutanga o tētahi whārangi kōrero, wāhanga rānei: Tohutohu ihirangi — kei roto ngā whakaaturanga mō ngā tāpiri hinengaro me tētahi wāanga kāore i te whakaaetia. E mōhio ana te kaipānui ki te whakatāki i te raupaparorohiko ki te whakakā te rāta ki ngā wahanga kua tohu.
Practical application
Ka whakapakarihia ngā whakatūpato ihirangi i te whakawhirinaki o ngā kaipānui, ā, ka ngatahia te tūpono o te raru. Mō tētahi taupānga romance interakative, ka āwhina ētahi kaitākaro ki te whiriwhiri i ngā ara ka whai wāhi ki te whai wāhitanga me te wā e whakataa, ā, ka pai ake te pupuri nā te mea e mōhiotia ana e te kaupapa he mea nui ki te oranga o te kaiwhakamahi. Praktika, tāpirihia ngā tuhinga poto ki runga i ngā pūrākau me ngā taitara wahanga, whakarato ētahi tohu/filters mō ngā ihirangi kua tohu, kaua e whakaatu spoilers i te tohao, ā, whakaaro ki te tāpiri rauemi tautoko kōwhiringa rānei mō ngā wāhanga pāpā.
FAQ
What’s the difference between a trigger warning and a content note?
They’re often used interchangeably. A trigger warning tends to emphasize potential trauma triggers (e.g., sexual violence), while a content note can be broader and more neutral (e.g., themes of grief). In practice, use clear, neutral wording that informs without sensationalizing.
How specific should a content note be without spoiling the story?
Be specific about the type of material (e.g., 'contains depictions of sexual assault' rather than vague labels like 'may be upsetting') but avoid describing plot details or outcomes that would ruin surprises. Keep it short, factual, and placed before the content.
Should every story with mature content have a content note?
Not necessarily. Use notes for material likely to cause strong distress or re-traumatization (violence, sexual coercion, detailed self-harm). Routine mature themes or consensual adult sex can be signaled by rating systems and age checks rather than a trigger warning.