The balancing act: User responsibility and platform accountability in the context of mental illness-related content consumption

Abstract

Although social media platforms provide affirming information and interactions, they might also serve as venues to (re)traumatize individuals through exposure to sensitive content, especially related to mental illness (e.g. suicide, self-harm). Applying the trauma-informed design framework, we employ a two-pronged methodological approach to evaluate (1) what potentially sensitive or traumatizing content relate to mental illness individuals report consuming on social media (i.e. seeking content out voluntarily or via algorithmic exposure); (2) perceptions of the role of the user and social media platforms, respectively, in integrating trauma-informed approaches; and (3) suggestions for how social media moderation policies could be (more) trauma-informed. We identified a spectrum among participants of perceived responsibility of individuals using social media and social media platforms for moderating sensitive and/or traumatic mental illness-related content.