Digital support measures: Innovative approaches to providing support to young people through Snapchat
The National Centre for Knowledge on Men's Violence Against Women is conducting a research project focusing on chat support through the social media platform Snapchat within the framework of a government commission regarding the digital dimensions of violence and abuse. The project examines which children and young people seek support, what questions are posed, and what opportunities and challenges can be found in relation to support offered through social media.
Within the framework of the government commission “Uppdrag om de digitala dimensionerna av mäns våld mot kvinnor, våld i nära relationer, hedersrelaterat våld och förtryck samt prostitution och människohandel” (A2024/00815), the National Centre for Knowledge on Men's Violence Against Women (NCK) has initiated a research project that examines how support provided via chat on Snapchat operate as a form of support.
The research project will examine which user groups seek support on Snapchat. Factors to be examined include, among others, demographic factors (such as age and gender identity), themes that emerge in the chat logs and the perceived rationale for which support is sought. Through analysis and examination of the chat logs and statistical data the aim is that the project will contribute to increased knowledge regarding children’s and young people’s digital support-seeking behavior, as well as their perceived needs and challenges.
Furthermore, the study will highlight both the challenges and opportunities involved in using existing media platforms, such as Snapchat, to provide support to children and young people. The project will, through individual and focus group interviews with support providers, examine their experience and what they perceive as opportunities and challenges. The aim is to obtain increased knowledge of how children and young people seek support, the needs that can be identified, and that the takeaways from the project will be applicable to other target groups of people subjected to violence and abuse.