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Cited by 49Suicide and Self-Harm StudiesImpact of Technology on AdolescentsMental Health via Writing

Examining the scope and patterns of deliberate self-injurious cutting content in popular social media

Miguel, Elizabeth M., Chou, Tommy, Golik, Alejandra, Cornacchio, Danielle, Sanchez, Amanda L., DeSerisy, Mariah, Comer, Jonathan S.·2017·Depression and Anxiety
DOI 10.1002/da.22668
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Abstract

BACKGROUND: Social networking services (SNS) have rapidly become a central platform for adolescents' social interactions and media consumption patterns. The present study examined a representative sample of publicly accessible content related to deliberate self-injurious cutting across three SNS platforms: Twitter, Tumblr, and Instagram. METHODS: Data collection simulated searches for publicly available deliberate self-injury content on Twitter, Tumblr, and Instagram. Over a six-month period at randomly generated time points, data were obtained by searching "#cutting" on each SNS platform and collecting the first 10 posts generated. Independent evaluators coded posts for presence of the following: (a) graphic content, (b) negative self-evaluations, (c) references to mental health terms, (d) discouragement of deliberate self-injury, and (e) recovery-oriented resources. Differences across platforms were examined. RESULTS: Data collection yielded a sample of 1,155 public posts (770 of which were related to mental health). Roughly 60% of sampled posts depicted graphic content, almost half included negative self-evaluations, only 9.5% discouraged self-injury, and <1% included formal recovery resources. Instagram posts displayed the greatest proportion of graphic content and negative self-evaluations, whereas Twitter exhibited the smallest proportion of each. CONCLUSIONS: Findings characterize the graphic nature of online SNS deliberate self-injury content and the relative absence of SNS-posted resources for populations seeking out deliberate self-injurious cutting content. Mental health professionals must recognize the rapidly changing landscape of adolescent media consumption, influences, and social interaction as they may pertain to self-harm patterns.

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Crossref · 10.1002/da.22668

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  • Similar dynamics of SM modeling of peri-psychiatric symptoms in youth have consistently been reported with respect to dissociative identity disorder and self-harm.

    “Similar dynamics of SM modeling of peri-psychiatric symptoms in youth have consistently been reported with respect to dissociative identity disorder [107, 108] and self-harm [109–111].”

    From Scrolling through adolescence: a systematic review of the impact of TikTok on adolescent mental health (2025) · cites this paper as [109]

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Authors
Miguel, E. M., Chou, T., Golik, A., Cornacchio, D., Sanchez, A. L., DeSerisy, M., & Comer, J. S.
Affiliations
  • Florida International University (US)
  • Fordham University (US)
Corresponding author
Comer, Jonathan S.
ORCID
Venue
Depression and Anxiety
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2017-06-29
Volume
34
Issue
9
Pages
786-793
ISSN
1091-4269 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1002/da.22668
OpenAlex
W2730411749
Cited by
49
References
37
Citations by year
2026: 3 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 10 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 9 · 2019: 10 · 2018: 2
FWCI
0.88
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
Locations
  • Depression and Anxiety (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institutes of Health (K23 MH090247)
  • National Institute of Mental Health
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Suicide and Self-Harm Studies
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Impact of Technology on Adolescents
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Mental Health via Writing
Keywords
cuttings, social media, adolescents, Twitter, Tumblr, Instagram, graphic content, negative self-evaluation, recovery resources, mental health discourse
MeSH terms
Humans, Self-Injurious Behavior, Social Networking, Social Media

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