The experiences of young people who use social media regularly and who deliberately self-harm

The use of social media has significantly altered the daily lives of young people, raising concerns about its potential impact on their mental health, specifically its association with deliberate self-harm and suicidal ideation. This study explores how regular social media use affects youth engagement in deliberate self-harm and suicidality, unveiling the intricate link between youth mental health and social media through an extensive Medline and CINAHL database search. The findings of this review show a complex link between online imagery, social media and suicidal behaviour in young people, where social media can foster peer connections and treatment access, but may also exacerbate deliberate self-harm and suicidal thoughts, especially in vulnerable young people. Overall, this review highlights the in-depth experiences between regular social media use and youth who deliberate self-harm and experience suicidal ideation, identifying the need for education of young people concerning the risks of using social media and monitoring by parents, teachers and mental health professionals. Despite prior inconsistencies, regular use of social media by young people is associated with an increased risk of deliberate self-harm and suicidality, particularly among those who are vulnerable due to exposure to triggering online content and the potential for negative social interactions.