1. Broadcasting Self-Injury for Change: Exploring the Presentation of Advocacy Strategies on YouTube.
- Author
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Stirling, Fiona J. and Lewis, Stephen P.
- Abstract
This study employed an observational design to explore the presentation of advocacy strategies in YouTube videos orientated around the event of Self-Injury Awareness Day (SIAD). While previous research has focused on highlighting potential dangers of social media platforms like YouTube we approached our exploration from a perspective of advocacy to try and establish a more balanced understanding of how YouTube can, and does, contribute to self-injury discourses. The aim was not to define advocacy in YouTube videos but rather to understand more about the ways advocacy strategies might be presented, and what this looks like in the content produced by individuals with lived experience of self-injury. We expected to find content concerned with improving the lives of people experiencing self-injury, which could be interpreted as advocacy. Thematic analysis of thirty videos offered four themes: Community, comradery, and cheerleading; Education around self-injury; Authentic representation of self-injury; Development of advocacy identity. Findings indicate advocacy through YouTube exists and results in supportive, passionate, and resourceful content with potential to improve the wellbeing of individuals who self-injure, countering narratives of self-injury related content having a solely negative impact. Further research is required to fully understand, and harness, the potential of advocacy through online mediums. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
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