Videos posted online that feature self-injury are popular viewing among young adults and possibly teens — and some researchers worry that this may encourage copycat behaviors.

A study conducted using YouTube’s search option entering the keywords ‘self-injury’ and ‘self-harm,’ found that the 100 most frequently-viewed videos received more than 2.3 million views — and often contained graphic depictions of cutting, burning, and self-embedding, according to Stephen Lewis, PhD, of the University of Guelph in Ontario, and colleagues.

Most of the videos did not have warnings about the content or viewing restrictions, Lewis and co-authors reported online ahead of the March issue of Pediatrics.

Although the researchers did not evaluate the influence these videos may have on young viewers, they said that ‘the possible impact … is worrisome.’

In particular, they wrote, ‘The nature of nonsuicidal self-injury videos on YouTube may foster normalization of nonsuicidal self-injury and may reinforce the behavior through regular viewing of nonsuicidal self-injury-themed videos.’

Previous studies have shown that self-injury in the absence of suicidal thoughts occurs at rates of 14% to 21% among children, teens, and young adults, and places them at risk for interpersonal difficulties, elevated psychiatric symptoms, and even suicide.

The proliferation of video-sharing Web sites featuring these self-harm videos, […]