TY - JOUR
T1 - An analysis of depression, self-harm, and suicidal ideation content on Tumblr
AU - Cavazos-Rehg, Patricia A.
AU - Krauss, Melissa J.
AU - Sowles, Shaina J.
AU - Connolly, Sarah
AU - Rosas, Carlos
AU - Bharadwaj, Meghana
AU - Grucza, Richard
AU - Bierut, Laura J.
N1 - Funding Information:
This work was supported by the National Institutes of Health, grant numbers R01DA032843 (PCR), R01DA 039455 (PCR). One of the authors, Dr. Bierut, is listed as an inventor on Issued U.S. Patent 8, 080, 371, "Markers for Addiction, " covering the use of certain SNPs in determining the diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of addiction. All other authors declare they have no conflicts of interest.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2016 Hogrefe Publishing.
PY - 2017
Y1 - 2017
N2 - Background: Social networking about depression can be indicative of self-reported depression and/or can normalize risk behaviors such as self-harm and suicidal ideation. Aim: To gain a better understanding of the depression, self-harm, and suicidal content that is being shared on Tumblr. Method: From April 16 to May 10, 2014, 17 popular depression-related Tumblr accounts were monitored for new posts and engagement with other Tumblr users. A total of 3,360 posts were randomly selected from all historical posts from these accounts and coded based on themes ascertained by the research team. Results: The 17 Tumblr accounts posted a median number of 185 posts (range = 0-2,954). Content was engaged with (i.e., re-blogged or liked) a median number of 1,677,362 times (range = 0-122,186,504). Of the 3,360 randomly selected posts, 2,739 (82%) were related to depression, suicide, or self-harm. Common themes were self-loathing (412, 15%), loneliness/feeling unloved (405, 15%), self-harm (407, 15%), and suicide (372, 14%). Conclusion: This study takes an important first step at better understanding the displayed depression-related references on Tumblr. The findings signal a need for suicide prevention efforts to intervene on Tumblr and use this platform in a strategic way, given the depression and suicidal content that was readily observed on Tumblr.
AB - Background: Social networking about depression can be indicative of self-reported depression and/or can normalize risk behaviors such as self-harm and suicidal ideation. Aim: To gain a better understanding of the depression, self-harm, and suicidal content that is being shared on Tumblr. Method: From April 16 to May 10, 2014, 17 popular depression-related Tumblr accounts were monitored for new posts and engagement with other Tumblr users. A total of 3,360 posts were randomly selected from all historical posts from these accounts and coded based on themes ascertained by the research team. Results: The 17 Tumblr accounts posted a median number of 185 posts (range = 0-2,954). Content was engaged with (i.e., re-blogged or liked) a median number of 1,677,362 times (range = 0-122,186,504). Of the 3,360 randomly selected posts, 2,739 (82%) were related to depression, suicide, or self-harm. Common themes were self-loathing (412, 15%), loneliness/feeling unloved (405, 15%), self-harm (407, 15%), and suicide (372, 14%). Conclusion: This study takes an important first step at better understanding the displayed depression-related references on Tumblr. The findings signal a need for suicide prevention efforts to intervene on Tumblr and use this platform in a strategic way, given the depression and suicidal content that was readily observed on Tumblr.
KW - Adolescent
KW - Depression
KW - Self-injurious behavior
KW - Social media
KW - Suicidal ideation
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85014489096&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1027/0227-5910/a000409
DO - 10.1027/0227-5910/a000409
M3 - Article
C2 - 27445014
AN - SCOPUS:85014489096
SN - 0227-5910
VL - 38
SP - 44
EP - 52
JO - Crisis
JF - Crisis
IS - 1
ER -