In 2026, the 黄色视频 Library instituted the 黄色视频 Library Poster Prize, which recognizes the best poster presentation at the Inquiry@黄色视频 Conference, as determined by anonymous graduate student adjudicators. The award is valued at $250.
Winners
Alessia Cataudella (Department of Psychology), "Red Flags or Green Lights: How Trigger Warnings Shape Self-Harm-Related Content and Engagement on TikTok"
Self-harm and suicide are growing concerns among Canadian adolescents, and social media platforms like TikTok can influence youths鈥 mental health. Harmful online content may lead to the spread of maladaptive thoughts and behaviours, such as the imitation of self-harm itself, with these risks amplified by unregulated digital environments and limited platform accountability. Trigger warnings (TWs) are used to flag this potentially distressing material, yet evidence regarding their effectiveness is mixed 鈥 some studies suggest they may increase anticipatory anxiety or engagement with warned-about content. Further, the majority of TW research focuses on viewer experiences rather than the creator鈥檚 usage of these warnings. This study explores how TWs are used in suicide and self-harm-related TikToks, whether they influence engagement, and how content differs with and without TWs. A purposeful sample of 102 self-harm-related TikTok videos (51 with TWs, 51 without) was collected by searching 鈥#sh鈥 (denoting self-harm) in the TikTok search bar on a factory-reset device. Engagement metrics (views, likes, comments, shares, bookmarks) were extracted and compared between the groups, and the TW format (caption, text on screen, verbal, hashtag) was identified. A qualitative content analysis was performed to compare thematic differences between videos containing TWs and those without. Contrary to expectations, videos without TWs had significantly higher engagement across all metrics. This suggests that content lacking warnings is either more widely promoted by the algorithm or more appealing to viewers. TWs were also applied inconsistently, raising concerns about the visibility of potentially harmful material. Although the content analysis is ongoing, early findings point to a high prevalence of graphic content and distressing messaging in self-harm-related videos, regardless of TW presence. Taken together, these results highlight the need for clearer online content moderation strategies and ultimately empower youth to make informed autonomous choices about their engagement with self-harm content online.
Honourable Mentions
Serena Adekokuronile (School of Nursing), "Is Vitamin D the Missing Link? Progesterone Signaling and Racial Disparities in Uterine Leiomyoma Pathogenesis"
Rishta Bhusal, Falaq Mansuri (School of Nursing), "The Cancer-Related Experiences of Visible Minorities in Canada: A Scoping Review"
Selina Chenyue Wang (Faculty of Health Sciences), "Chlorofluorocarbon Emissions and Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer Incidence in Europe: A Retrospective Epidemiological Correlational Analysis"
Daniel Jafari (Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences), "Assessing Engagement in a Student-Led Community Program: A Program Evaluation of Friday Friends"
Olivia Pellarin (Department of Life Sciences), "Music and Movement Program for Older Adults in a Hospital Setting: Feasibility and Benefits"