Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40063940›Full record

ArticleJournal of medical Internet research2025

Online Safety When Considering Self-Harm and Suicide-Related Content: Qualitative Focus Group Study With Young People, Policy Makers, and Social Media Industry Professionals.

Louise La Sala, Amanda Sabo, Maria Michail, Pinar Thorn, Michelle Lamblin, Vivienne Browne, Jo Robinson

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of medical Internet research, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Louise La SalaOrygen, Parkville, Australia.ORCID 0000-0002-6736-6977
Amanda SaboOrygen, Parkville, Australia.ORCID 0000-0001-9616-9860
Maria MichailCentre for Youth Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.ORCID 0000-0001-7380-3494
Pinar ThornOrygen, Parkville, Australia.ORCID 0000-0003-4686-574X
Michelle LamblinOrygen, Parkville, Australia.ORCID 0000-0003-4085-8637
Vivienne BrowneOrygen, Parkville, Australia.ORCID 0009-0009-9678-9256
Jo RobinsonOrygen, Parkville, Australia.ORCID 0000-0001-5652-918X

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundYoung people are disproportionately impacted by self-harm and suicide, and concerns exist regarding the role of social media and exposure to unsafe content. Governments and social media companies have taken various approaches to address online safety for young people when it comes to self-harm and suicide; however, little is known about whether key stakeholders believe current approaches are fit-for-purpose.

objectiveFrom the perspective of young people, policy makers and professionals who work within the social media industry, this study aimed to explore (1) the perceived challenges and views regarding young people communicating on social media about self-harm and suicide, and (2) what more social media companies and governments could be doing to address these issues and keep young people safe online.

methodsThis qualitative study involved 6 focus groups with Australian young people aged 12-25 years (n=7), Australian policy makers (n=14), and professionals from the global social media industry (n=7). Framework analysis was used to summarize and chart the data for each stakeholder group.

resultsIn total, 3 primary themes and six subthemes are presented: (1) challenges and concerns, including the reasons for, and challenges related to, online communication about self-harm and suicide as well as reasoning with a deterministic narrative of harm; (2) roles and responsibilities regarding online safety and suicide prevention, including who is responsible and where responsibility starts and stops, as well as the need for better collaborations; and (3) future approaches and potential solutions, acknowledging the limitations of current safety tools and policies, and calling for innovation and new ideas.

conclusionsOur findings highlight tensions surrounding roles and responsibilities in ensuring youth online safety and offer perspectives on how social media companies can support young people discussing self-harm and suicide online. They also support the importance of cross-industry collaborations and consideration of social media in future suicide prevention solutions intended to support young people.

Indexed as

Administrative PersonnelInternetSelf-Injurious BehaviorSocial MediaSuicideAdolescentAdultAustraliaChildFemaleFocus GroupsHumansMaleQualitative ResearchSuicide PreventionYoung Adultonline safetypolicyself-harmsocial mediasuicide preventionyoung people

Identifiers

PMID40063940
PMCPMC11933773

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LicenceCC BY
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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.