The rise of ‘digital self-harm’: Worrying trend sees children [Mailonline, by Harry Pettit, 31/10/2017]

  • New study has shown that ‘digital self-harm’ is widespread among US teenagers 
  • Like its physical counterpart, it is often a cry for a response from others
  • The researchers say there may be a link between digital self-harm and suicidal thoughts and attempts

A worrying new online trend sees children as young as 12 posting nasty anonymous messages about themselves.

A new study has shown that one in 20 US teenagers have ‘digitally self-harmed’, and like its physical counterpart, the behaviour is often a cry for help.

The researchers say there may be a link between digital self-harm and suicidal thoughts and/or attempts.

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A worrying new online trend sees children as young as 12 posting nasty anonymous messages about themselves. A new study has shown that 'digital self-harm' is widespread among US teenagers, and like its physical counterpart is often a cry for help (stock image)

A worrying new online trend sees children as young as 12 posting nasty anonymous messages about themselves. A new study has shown that ‘digital self-harm’ is widespread among US teenagers, and like its physical counterpart is often a cry for help (stock image)

WHAT DID THEY FIND?

The researchers quizzed nearly 6,000 US middle and high school students between 12 and 17 years old.

–  One in 20 had anonymously abused themselves online

–  Young men were more likely to have digitally self-harmed, with 7.1 per cent reporting they had done it compared to 5.3 per cent of girls

– Those who identified as ‘non-heterosexual were three times more likely to bully themselves online

– Victims of cyberbullying were 12 times more likely to have also cyberbullied themselves

– Teenagers with a history of drug use, depression symptoms, or self-harm behaviours offline were all far more likely to have digitally self-harmed

‘Like physical self-harm and depression, we need to closely look at the possibility that digital self-harm behaviours might precede suicide attempts,’ study lead author Professor Sameer Hinduja, from Florida Atlantic University, said.

‘We need to refrain from demonising those who bully, and come to terms with the troubling fact that in certain cases the aggressor and target may be one and the same.’

The Florida researchers quizzed nearly 6,000 middle and high school students between 12 and 17 years old for their study.

Young men were significantly more likely to have digitally self-harmed, with 7.1 per cent reporting they had done it compared to 5.3 per cent of young women.

Of those who had self-cyber bullied, around half said they had only done it once, while a third said they had done it a few times.