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.

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.

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.