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# Online images of self inflicted injury are popular
- URL: https://www.foodconsumer.org/online_images_of_self_inflicted_injury_are_popular_0223110548/
- Published: 2011-02-23T18:47:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-22T15:56:52.000Z
- Description: Canadian researchers examined the 100 most-viewed YouTube self-injury videos, seen over 2 million times. Explicit imagery was common, cutting was the most frequent method, and 58 percent carried no warning. They caution the videos may normalize the behavior.
- Author: Food Consumer
- Tags: Lifestyle, Health News, #vivvo-import

### by Aimee Keenan-Greene

A new study in the Journal [Pediatrics](http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/abstract/peds.2010-2317v1?ref=foodconsumer.org) looks at the top 100 videos on YouTube and what anyone, including your kids, can potentially access.

Canadian researchers say explicit imagery of self-injury was common. Specifically, 90 percent of noncharacter videos had non-suicidal self-injury photographs.

Only 28 percent of character videos had in-action non-suicidal self-injury. 

For both, cutting was the most common method and more than half of the videos 58 percent,do not post a warning about what the viewer was about to see. 

Scientists analyzed videos viewed over 2 million times, and most, 80 percent, were accessible to a general audience. They used YouTube's search engine and the key words: 'self-injury' and 'self-harm').

The 50 most viewed character with a live individual, and noncharacter videos were selected and examined across key quantitative and qualitative variables.

Viewers rated the videos positively (*M* \= 4.61; SD: 0.61 out of 5.0) and selected videos as a favorite over  
12,000 times. Other videos' tones were largely factual or educational, 53 percent, or melancholic 51 percent. 

Scientists say the nature of non-suicidal self-injury videos on YouTube may foster normalization of non-suicidal self-injury and may reinforce the behavior through regular viewing of non-suicidal self-injury–themed videos.

According to the report, non-suicidal self-injury, the deliberate destruction of one's body tissue like self-cutting or burning, without suicidal intent, is consistently 14 to 24 percent among youth and young adults. 

"Graphic videos showing non-suicidal self-injury are frequently accessed and received positively by viewers. These videos largely provide non-suicidal self-injury information and/or express ahopeless or melancholic message.", researchers say, "Professionals working with youth and young adults who enact non-suicidal self-injury need to be aware of the scope and nature of non-suicidal self-injury on YouTube."

Authors:  
**Stephen P. Lewis, PhDa, Nancy L. Heath, PhDb, Jill M. St Denis, MAa, Rick Noble, BSb** 

aDepartment of Psychology, University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada; and  
bDepartment of Educational and Counseling Psychology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Photo Credit: You Tube

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