Social media and self-harm: Study finds need for more control over content and safe spaces offering connection and support

There are increasing calls for tighter legislation and restrictions on social media use, particularly for children and young people. Evidence shows potential harms co-exist on social media platforms alongside opportunities for crisis support and connection.

Now researchers based at Swansea University's National Centre for Suicide Prevention and Self-Harm Research (NCSR) have been examining the issue by analysing the views of social media users themselves.

There are concerns from experts that extensive restrictions have the potential to remove supportive spaces from those who need them the most. Current evidence on the impact of restrictions remains sparse with early evaluations of the ban in Australia indicating roughly eight in 10 children were still using social media. Therefore more evidence is required understand how to create safe online spaces.

The team believe this is the first study to gain the perspectives of individuals with a history of self-harm on social media safety features.

For their research they conducted a survey of more than 5,000 respondents as well as in-depth interviews with 17 people - most with a history of self-harm and all of whom who had viewed self-harm content online. The team asked about experiences of self-harm and suicide content, the increased restrictions and safety messaging introduced by some platforms in 2019, as well as specific safety features.

Their findings, which have just been published by the Journal of Medical Internet Research (JMIR), included:

• Half the respondents felt the introduction of the additional restrictions made social media safer; 34.9 per cent said it changed what they saw and 9.9 per cent said it changed what they posted;
• 79.4 per cent felt restrictions could make someone feel bad or isolated. Interviewees discussed supportive spaces being hindered by censorship of recovery narratives and , increases in isolation for those who depend on these communities;
• More than 90 per cent of respondents said they would be likely to click on a post with generic content warning, whereas just 40 per cent would view a post with a self-harm specific warning - having self-harm and suicide specific warnings allowed them to make a choice;
• 21.1 per cent had had a post censored or removed because their self-harm scars were visible. This was experienced as harmful by 90 per cent of respondents, with similar findings for stories of recovery;
• 87.8 per cent wanted more control over the content they see; and,
• There was a desire to increase safety for younger people, for example by tailoring platforms for younger users with more limited features.

The study's first author Dr Amanda Marchant said: "While restrictions may reduce harmful content, they may also unintentionally limit recovery narratives and community support. There needs to be ongoing evaluation to ensure there are supportive oenvironments while still minimising harm.

"As well as changes for safety we should also be optimising social media as an opportunity for signposting, reducing stigma and supportive communities."

The researchers are calling for restrictions and policies to be developed with young people and those with lived experience and then trialled thoroughly before being implemented.

They say analysing any restrictions and features is essential so platforms can continue to improve and create safe spaces while mitigating potential harms.

Professor Ann John, senior author and Director of NCSR said: "There is lots of uncertainty in the current evidence base of social media bans for under-16s with the potential for unintended consequences, including reduced access to supportive spaces, isolation, and pushing young people to darker more concealed spaces on the internet.

"Bans mean children and young people are less likely to discuss their social media experiences or any concerns with trusted adults. They are also difficult to implement. Online interventions should be co-designed, tested and evaluated before mass roll-out."

Dr Marchant added: "Almost 90 per cent of survey respondents said they wanted more personal control over what they view, highlighting that controls need to be easy to use and intuitive. This would increase young people's agency online and can be implemented by platform providers."

Read the paper in full: Experiences of Social Media Platforms' Policies and Restrictions Related to Self-Harm Content: Mixed Methods Study

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