Accepted for/Published in: Journal of Medical Internet Research
Date Submitted: Jul 6, 2019
Date Accepted: Dec 16, 2019
Examination of Gender Norms in Health-Related Content Posted to Snapchat Discover Channels: Qualitative Content Analysis
ABSTRACT
Background:
Snapchat has seen one of the most rapid, and unprecedented, growths in the history of social networking sites (SNS) and social media with 3 billion Snapchats sent daily. In 2015, Snapchat introduced a new feature, Snapchat Discover, providing a unique way for publishers, such as magazines, to connect their content to Snapchat users.
Objective:
The purpose of this study was to evaluate qualitatively the health-related content distributed among male-focused and female-focused Discover channels and to determine whether differences exist between the content posted to these channels.
Methods:
Magazine Discover channels with male and female targeted audiences were identified based on the magazine’s claimed audience and a search of Snapchat Discover’s magazine publishers, resulting in the selection of two male-focused and two female-focused channels. Stories were collected daily from each of the selected channels during a four-week period. Using the constant comparative method, 406 Discover stories were collected and analyzed.
Results:
Differences in health content coverage existed between male- and female-focused channels. General health stories from male channels comprised 7.5% of total stories compared to 22.8% for female channels. Sexual health stories from male channels comprised 3.0% of total stories compared to 18.8% for female channels. Moreover, female-focused channels’ content was more comprehensive. Female audiences were portrayed as being health information seekers, concerned with sexual health and male satisfaction, primarily responsible for contraception and pregnancy prevention, and less informed about sex. Male audiences were portrayed as being less likely to seek health information, obsessed with and driven by sex, and less concerned with sexual health.
Conclusions:
Understanding the content shared to social media is important, especially when considering the implications content may have on behavior. In terms of content, these findings suggest Discover channels appear to promote gendered health and sexual health stereotypes and norms through the information posted.
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