Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Police said two young men were rescued from suicide attempts in Gonda and Moradabad after Meta sent alerts triggered by distressing Instagram videos.
The incidents were reported on Oct 21. Police said a 22-year-old in Gonda and a 19-year-old in Moradabad posted videos indicating suicidal intent while holding bottles containing liquid substances. In Gonda, an alert reached police at 3.33 pm. In Moradabad, an alert was received at 6.46 am. Police reached the Dilari area home of the 19-year-old welder within eight minutes and stopped him as he prepared to ingest pesticide. UP Police said Meta alerts helped save 4,071 lives from Jan 1, 2023, to Oct 10, 2026.
He cited distress after a relationship ended due to family opposition.
He told police relationship-related stress drove him to the step. Police said both were counselled and their families expressed gratitude. The automated alerts were received at the Social Media Centre at UP Police headquarters in Lucknow. The youth, from Dhanepur, had posted a message suggesting he would no longer remain in the world. A team led by sub-inspector Dharmendra Yadav, with constables Anubhav Chauhan and Satendra Yadav, reached the residence within seven minutes and found him with a pesticide bottle, stopping him before consumption.