What Is Digital Self-harm?

When people think of self-harm, they usually imagine a physical technique that may involve cutting, burning, or other painful habits. A psychological manifestation of the same problem is called digital self-harm, and it is on the rise among adolescents and young adults. Unlike the physical type where wounds or scars can be visible, digital methods are not as easily noticed by parents, guardians, and friends. It is important to understand why this happens and what it looks like in order to find help for those who do it.

How Does Digital Self-harm Manifest?

Instances that define digital self-harm vary based on content and online platform. Basically, it consists of people posting negative comments about themselves anonymously. They create alternate usernames or accounts on popular social media and other platforms and make posts or responses that would be called cyberbullying if someone else was doing it.

A study in 2016 showed that 6 percent of teenagers made anonymous negative posts about themselves on the Internet. A 2019 study showed an increase to 10% (. Experts expect the number is even higher today. The percentage is greater for males than females, which goes against common expectations that girls are much more likely to engage in all types of self-harm.

Reasons for Digital Self-harm

The reasons why young people engage in self-harm have not changed from the earliest recognition of this problem. Today, like everything else, the issue has gone digital. Making anonymous accounts and posting from them is simple and highly effective as a psychological attack. 

Digital self-harm is about getting attention but not in the dramatic way some people may claim. Young people seek validation for who they are and try to find a way to manage the negative self- talk that fills their mind. This could be an extension of external bullying and personal characteristics like sexual orientation, race, depression, addiction, or a simple lack of connectivity to desired peer groups.

Help for Digital Self-harm Situations

Bullying of all types needs a direct and effective response. When it comes from the individual themselves, professional therapy tops the list of effective solutions. Cognitive behavioral therapy that helps the young person regulate their emotions, improve self-esteem, manage stress, and find new avenues of expression can work.

Individuals, friends, and family members also work to identify and validate feelings that lead to these behaviors and help redirect to healthier behaviors.

Digital self-harm is an unfortunately accessible and simple way for young people to damage themselves without many outward signs. A parent or friend who notices cuts, burns, or scars can encourage the person to get help to recover. It is much more difficult to notice depression, cyberbullying, real-life bullying, or self-esteem issues when the person in question tries to hide them.

As digital self-harm becomes more common especially among young men, people who care for young people need to work harder to counteract the feelings and experiences that lead to this destructive behavior. People who feel drawn to these activities should know that there are other ways to get help with the problems before they become more serious.