An examination of tweets posted before and after enactment of Twitter’s Suicide and Self-Harm Policy: a content analysis study.

Abstract

Abstract The proliferation of suicide and self-harm content on social media platforms has emerged as a pressing concern in recent years, reflecting broader societal challenges surrounding mental health and online safety. In response to these concerns, platforms like Twitter (now “X”) have implemented policies aimed at curtailing the spread of such content and promoting user safety. The current study investigated the impact of Twitter's Suicide and Self-Harm Policy through a content analysis of tweets before and after its enactment, focusing on categorizing tweets according to slant, tweet category, and theme. A corpus of 3846 tweets was analyzed. Within this corpus, tweets spanning 32 weeks from October 18, 2018, to May 29, 2019, were selected. These dates were chosen to encompass approximately 16 weeks before and after the enactment of the policy on February 7, 2018. The analysis revealed notable shifts in the discourse surrounding self-harm, with discernible impacts attributed to the implementation of Twitter's policy. While the policy appeared to stimulate increased discussions aimed at fostering a better understanding of self-harm, it also underscored the necessity for social media platforms to delineate between factual information and personal opinions. However, the dissemination of personal accounts and experiences within these discussions served as a conduit for peer support, potentially offering invaluable assistance to individuals grappling with self-harm issues. Taken together, while policy interventions can stimulate constructive dialogue, careful consideration must be given to balancing factual accuracy with the provision of spaces for personal expression and support within online communities.