An expert has warned those who struggle with addiction after the ‘most harmful social media platform’ was revealed in a recent analysis.
Sana Lake Recovery released it
Sana Lake Recovery released its analysis in October this year which showed what it believes to be the most harmful social media platform for addicts.
Over 50 million Americans are said to have struggled with some kind of addiction in the last year.
The findings explain the most ‘harmful’ platform
The analysis by Sana Lake Recovery states, “With only 1,283 sobriety and recovery-related hashtags, Reddit is the #1 most harmful social platform for people struggling with addiction.”
“Reddit is known to be a platform that can be quite toxic, as individuals can make posts, comments, and subreddits all under an anonymous username and with their own community rules.”
People struggling could be ‘vulnerable’
It continues, “This can be difficult for someone looking to be more vulnerable with their recovery journey, as there might not be as many inviting communities as there are on other social platforms.”
“It’s also a known platform for misinformation, and for individuals seeking help with addiction, this can be extremely dangerous.”
They also mentioned other platforms
The analysis also mentioned Twitter (also known as X) and BlueSky as ‘harmful’ social media platforms after Reddit.
Chief Clinical Officer at Sana Lake Recovery, Ashley Murry, has warned those recovering from addiction and tend to use social media a lot.
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She doesn’t recommend the online space
With the analysis in mind, Murry said, “The environment is everything in recovery.”
“In rural states with limited harm reduction funding and resources, people often turn to platforms like Reddit, X, and more to find answers. However, these platforms can often replace professional care and advice with misinformation.”
It can be risky to need validation online
“The risks increase when scrolling through comment threads and posts from anonymous accounts, and not from licensed professionals,” Murry continued.
“If you find yourself seeking validation or answers from anonymous accounts rather than trusted individuals, to avoid possibly being triggered, it is best to seek the help of a medical professional.”
Reddit has since responded
Since the findings came out, Reddit has responded to the claims in a statement refuting that it’s ‘harmful’.
A spokesperson for the platform told Unilad, “This report’s methodology is not only unclear, it’s inaccurate.”
The platform turned down the claims
“For one, Reddit doesn’t use hashtags, so that’s clearly not the best way to assess content on our platform,” the spokesperson went on.
“Reddit hosts a wide variety of addiction support communities and plays a critical role in many users’ recovery journeys.”
There have been different studies
“Numerous academic studies have found that Reddit is helpful and supportive for people suffering from addiction,” they added.
“We also have strict sitewide rules to keep our users safe and teams, tools, and processes to enforce them.”