Jeanine Guidry, Virginia Commonwealth University
Caroline Orr, Virginia Commonwealth University
Kellie Carlyle, Virginia Commonwealth University

In the current study, a quantitative content analysis was conducted on a random sample of 1,000 Instagram posts and 1,000 tweets using the hashtag #NotOkay. The analysis focused specifically on the type of information included, the frequency of engagement by users on both types of posts, and a comparison between the two platforms. Recognizing that sexual abuse is embedded within a larger sociocultural context, we conceptualized the analysis using the Social Ecological Model as the theoretical framework.

OnAir Post: #NotOkay

#Zika on Instagram

Social media is now one of the primary places where people seek out information about the Zika virus. However, little is known about the content of these messages and about their public engagement. In addition, visual social media platforms like Instagram are under-studied in social media research. These visual platforms are particularly significant because of the different manner visuals are processed as compared to text-based messages. Therefore, the goal of this study is to determine how the public is talking about and responding to conversations about a current infectious disease outbreak, Zika, on visual social media platform Instagram.

OnAir Post: #Zika on Instagram

Pinning about #IPV

Co-author:
Kellie Carlyle, Virginia Commonwealth University

The results show that victim blaming was present in 11.7% (n=88) of the sample, 8% (n=60) mentioned rape, 10.5% (n=75) mentioned bystander intervention (either the presence of or encouragement to), and 13.5% (n=102) mentioned homicide.

In addition, study results suggest that mentioning physical abuse may have an effect on Pinterest engagement... and suggest that when Pinterest users mention or show psychological abuse in pins, engagement with their pins increases.

OnAir Post: Pinning about #IPV

Summary

Stories about abuse on Instagram and Twitter

Presenter: Jeanine Guidry

Jeanine Guidry, Virginia Commonwealth University
Caroline Orr, Virginia Commonwealth University
Kellie Carlyle, Virginia Commonwealth University

OnAir Post: #NotOkay

Abstract

#NotOkay: Stories about abuse on Instagram and Twitter

At the height of the 2016 U.S. presidential campaign, tens of thousands of women started sharing their experiences of sexual assault on Twitter and Instagram in response to a video showing presidential candidate Donald Trump boasting about groping women. Using the hashtag #NotOkay, the outpouring of personal stories brought attention to the pervasiveness of rape culture in America and its impact on women and girls nationwide. Social media platforms and mobile technologies are playing an increasingly important role in both increasing public awareness about sexual abuse as well as giving a voice to abuse victims who have not shared their stories previously, with the 2014 #WhyIleft/#WhyIstayed Twitter conversations as a prominent example. However, not much is known about how these stories are shared on visual platforms such as Instagram, and how these conversations may differ as they unfold on platforms like Twitter and Instagram.

In the current study, a quantitative content analysis was conducted on a random sample of 1,000 Instagram posts and 1,000 tweets using the hashtag #NotOkay. The analysis focused specifically on the type of information included, the frequency of engagement by users on both types of posts, and a comparison between the two platforms. Recognizing that sexual abuse is a problem embedded within a larger sociocultural context, we conceptualized the analysis using the Social Ecological Model as the theoretical framework.

This study is ongoing and will be completed by August 1, 2017. The results will provide insight into the diverse personal accounts of sexual abuse, as well as the role of social media in facilitating such discussions. Implications for activism and bystander intervention will also be discussed.