• Safe spaces and trigger warnings

    Open Forum     |      September 3, 2025

    A new study involving more than 700 US university students found that trigger warnings do not make students feel more supported or positive toward instructors, despite being widely endorsed. Students who received trigger warnings before trauma-related lectures did not rate instructors as more trustworthy, caring, or open to controversial discussions. In contrast, ‘in a safe space’ messages had a clear positive impact.