Self-Injury, the Internet, and Social Media

Abstract Communicating and connecting with people via the Internet has emerged as highly salient for people across the globe. It should come as no surprise, then, that individuals with lived experience of self-injury also use the Internet and social media platforms with ubiquity. There are many factors that contribute to why online communication may have relevance to people with lived experience. There are also potential risks and benefits of online communication regarding self-injury. Indeed, online communication about self-injury represents a double-edged sword. Accordingly, the present chapter unpacks the extant literature concerning what motivates people with lived experience to use the Internet alongside what potential risks and benefits this may have. From here, we offer a person-centered contextualization of this literature and offer guidance about how to talk about online communication about self-injury with people who have lived experience.