#cutting: Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) on Instagram

Abstract

Background. Social media presents an important means for social interaction, especially among adolescents, with Instagram being the most popular platform in this age-group. Pictures and communication about non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) can frequently be found on the internet.Methods. During 4 weeks in April 2016, n = 2826 (from n = 1154 accounts) pictures which directly depicted wounds on Instagram were investigated. Those pictures, associated comments, and user accounts were independently rated for content. Associations between characteristics of pictures and comments as well as weekly and daily trends of posting behavior were analyzed.Results. Most commonly, pictures depicted wounds caused by cutting on arms or legs and were rated as mild or moderate injuries. Pictures with increasing wound grades and those depicting multiple methods of NSSI generated elevated amounts of comments. While most comments were neutral or empathic with some offering help, few comments were hostile. Pictures were mainly posted in the evening hours, with a small peak in the early morning. While there was a slight peak of pictures being posted on Sundays, postings were rather evenly spread across the week.Conclusions. Pictures of NSSI are frequently posted on Instagram. Social reinforcement might play a role in the posting of more severe NSSI pictures. Social media platforms need to take appropriate measures for preventing online social contagion.

“I just finally wanted to belong somewhere”—Qualitative Analysis of Experiences With Posting Pictures of Self-Injury on Instagram

“…The number of comments (and therefore attention) a picture received was significantly associated with the severity of the wound being portrayed. The tone of comments was mainly empathetic or offering help, while only a minor percentage of comments was abusive (18). This is in line with the "double-edged sword" described by Lewis & Seko (15), stating that social media activities regarding NSSI are beneficial on the one hand (i.e.…”

“…Participants were identified from a larger data-set investigating the occurrence of non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) on Instagram (18). All pictures and user accounts associated with the 16 German hashtags most commonly related to featuring pictures of NSSI wounds (i.e.…”

“…Especially the possibility of disclosing a history of NSSI anonymously might be of note, given the fear of stigmatization in "real life" (13,17). A recent study (18), analyzing all pictures with the most prominent NSSI related hashtags in Germany on Instagram in a four week period in April 2016 (N=32,182) showed a large number of pictures explicitly portraying wounds caused by NSSI (N=2,826). The number of comments (and therefore attention) a picture received was significantly associated with the severity of the wound being portrayed.…”

Effects of exposure to self-harm on social media: Evidence from a two-wave panel study among young adults

“…There may be helpful effects, such as reduction of social isolation by providing a sense of community, encouragement for recovery, and reduction of deliberate self-harm urges. However, harmful effects may include a triggering effect on imitational behaviors (Brown et al, 2018). Although there are repeatedly expressed speculations about effects that can theoretically range from "contagion" to "caring" (Carlyle et al, 2018), the detrimental consequences are typically emphasized by previous research (see, for an exception, Scherr and Reinemann, 2011 for the beneficial longitudinal effects of online health forums on suicidality).…”

Yonder: Doctor emigration, vitiligo, canes, and self-harm pictures on Instagram

“…A recent German study analysed 2826 Instagram pictures that directly depicted wounds from self-harm. 4 The images, posted in a 4-week period in April 2016, commonly showed mild to moderate cutting injuries to arms and legs. More severe injuries received more comments.…”