How smart tech tried to solve the mental health crisis and only made it worse

The troubles that ensued can't be blamed on just one bad apple. Crisis Text Line, founded in 2013 to provide free messaging services and intervention tools, was supposed to be the answer to the rapidly worsening mental health crisis. However, despite a promising start and assurances that the platform was anonymous, a January 2022 report by Politico tarnished the company's reputation overnight. Emma Bedor Hiland examines the company's failure of social responsibility, exploitation of well-intentioned volunteers and how corporate greed perpetuated pre-existing disparities between those who do and do not have access to mental healthcare.