“PM me” or “LOL”: Young peoples’ observations of supportive and unsympathetic responses to distress on social media

Abstract Social media has provided an important forum in which young people can express distress and seek support from their online peer networks. This study aimed to develop a typology of supportive and unsympathetic responses to expressions of distress in youth social media networks. An online survey was conducted with 385 university students (aged 17–21 years old) in which they were asked to provide examples of supportive responses, and unsympathetic responses to distress, which they had observed or experienced in their social media networks. Content analysis was used to identify emergent thematic categories, and to describe and code the frequency of examples within these categories. The analysis showed supportive responses included encouragement (37%), offering to talk (32%), giving practical help (14%), and sharing personal experiences (6%). The thematic categories among unsympathetic responses included minimising the distress (44%), making jokes (20%), blaming the person (19%), and encouraging self-harm (2%). The analysis highlights the importance of recognising the particular kinds of responses that young people perceive as supportive and unsympathetic. This introduces new dimensions to existing typologies of social support and might inform interventions aimed at improving emotional safety for young people who seek support through peer networks on social media.