Not only do only are teens using ambiguous hashtags in their text, they are also sharing images and videos of their self-harm through them. The CDC found term #MySecretFamily had more than 1.5 million search results on Instagram alone. Only one-third of the relevant hashtags generated Content Advisory warnings. Although social media platforms are regularly regulating content, the secret hashtags are increasing and creating communities.
The threat is more than a hashtag
In a time where viral social media challenges are increasing in quantity and apps like TikTok amplifies voices – both good and bad – the coded NSSI messages become increasingly difficult for social media companies to monitor and promptly remove.
Although many self-harm communities are meant to provide support for those suffering, it has also turned to normalize and build upon existing NSSI ideation by sharing methods of NSSI or sharing how to conceal self-harm.
#MySecretFamily
What should schools and parents look out for? Not all expressions of NSSI are direct. Self-harming young people that take part in NSSI may use typos of words that would otherwise create a flagged concern.
In addition to typos, the My Secret Family NSSI phenomenon uses coded names – thus building the secret family – related to mental illness as hashtags or as part of the normal text that may reveal more than what meets the eye. Below are a couple of known hashtags and code names to look out for on social media:
| Self-harm | Cat | Sam |
| Suicidal | Sue | Dallas |
| Depression | Deb | Dan |
| ADD/ADHD | Addie | Andy |
| Anorexia | Ana | Rex |
| Bulimia | Mia | Bill |
| Paranoia | Perry | Pat |
| Anxiety | Annie | Max |
| Disorder | Girls | Boys |
What can we do?
With the use of technology in today’s education, not only are young people more exposed to NSSI online communities, but it also increases the opportunity for intervention and prevention. While NSSI doesn’t necessarily mean there is an actual risk of suicide, intervention is extremely critical to identify troubled students and prevent escalation.
Building solid prevention, intervention, and support systems will make it easier to detect and support students in need. With technology, it’s important to have a monitoring solution that can be easily customized to detect keywords and phrases.
