“Prison TikTok”: Incarcerated Life Shared on Social Media

Reid, Kayla; Niebuhr, Nicole

doi:10.21428/cb6ab371.2ef20c24

Cited by 2 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 8 publications

(13 reference statements)

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“…As cell phones have become smaller and more sophisticated, they are capable of accessing social media platforms and other mobile apps. Today, prisoners actively record and post TikTok videos under the hashtag #PrisonTikTok, a popular content category on the platform with over 3 billion views, to share their lived experiences with incarceration including recording trending dances and showing how to prepare prison meals [ 19 - 22 ]. However, the use of TikTok to promote K2/Spice-related content is not well understood, though prior studies have identified content on other social media platforms not related to the incarcerated population [ 16 , 17 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Synthetic Cannabinoids in Prisons: Content Analysis of TikToks

McMann¹,

Calac²,

Nali³

et al. 2022

JMIR Infodemiology

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Background Synthetic cannabinoids are a significant public health concern, especially among incarcerated populations due to increased reports of abuse. Recent news reports have highlighted the severe consequences of K2/Spice, a synthetic cannabinoid, among the prison population in the United States. Despite regulations against cell phone use, inmates use TikTok to post K2/Spice-related content. Objective This study aimed to examine TikTok posts for use and illicit distribution of psychoactive substances (eg, K2/Spice) among incarcerated populations. Methods The study collected TikTok videos associated with the #k2spice hashtag and used a data collection approach similar to snowball sampling. Inductive coding was used to conduct content analysis of video characteristics. Videos were manually annotated to generate binary classifications related to the use of K2/Spice as well as selling and buying activities associated with it. Statistical analysis was used to determine associations between a video’s user engagement and an intent to buy or sell K2/Spice. Results A total of 89 TikTok videos with the hashtag #k2spice were manually coded, with 40% (n=36) identified as displaying the use, solicitation, or adverse effects of K2/Spice among the prison population. Of them, 44.44% (n=16) were in a prison-based setting documenting adverse effects including possible overdose. Videos with higher user engagement were positively correlated with comments indicating an intent to buy or sell K2/Spice. Conclusions K2/Spice is a drug subject to abuse among prison inmates in the United States, including depictions of its harmful effects being recorded and shared on TikTok. Lack of policy enforcement on TikTok and the need for better access to treatment services within the prison system may be exacerbating substance use among this highly vulnerable population. Minimizing the potential individual harm of this content on the incarcerated population should be a priority for social media platforms and the criminal justice system alike.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Synthetic Cannabinoids in Prisons: Content Analysis of TikToks

McMann¹,

Calac²,

Nali³

et al. 2022

JMIR Infodemiology

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Synthetic Cannabinoids in Prisons: Content Analysis of TikToks (Preprint)

McMann¹,

Calac²,

Nali³

et al. 2022

Preprint

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BACKGROUND Synthetic cannabinoids are a significant public health concern, especially among incarcerated populations due to increased reports of abuse. Recent news reports have highlighted the severe consequence of K2/Spice, a synthetic cannabinoid, on the prison population in the United States. Despite regulations against cell phone use, inmates utilize TikTok to post K2/Spice-related content. OBJECTIVE Hence, this study aimed to characterize TikTok posts associated with the illicit distribution of psychoactive substances (e.g., K2/Spice) purportedly among incarcerated populations. METHODS The study collected TikTok videos associated with the #k2spice hashtag and used a data collection approach similar to snowball sampling. Inductive coding was used to conduct content analysis for video characteristics. Videos were manually annotated to generate binary classifications related to use and selling and buying activities associated with K2/Spice. Statistical analysis was used to determine associations between a video’s user engagement and an intent to buy or sell K2/Spice. RESULTS A total of 75 TikTok videos with the hashtag #k2spice were manually coded, with 48% (n=36) identified as displaying the use of, solicitation, or adverse reaction from K2/Spice among prison population users. 44% were in a prison-based setting documenting adverse effects, including possible overdose. Videos with higher user engagement were positively correlated with comments indicating and intent to buy or sell K2/Spice. CONCLUSIONS K2/Spice, a synthetic cannabinoid, is a drug subject to abuse among prison inmates in the United States, including depictions of its harmful effects being recorded and shared on TikTok. Lack of policy enforcement on TikTok and the need for better access to treatment services within the prison system may be exacerbating substance use among this highly vulnerable population. Minimizing the potential individual harm of this content on those incarcerated should be a priority for social media platforms and the criminal justice system, alike.

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“Prison TikTok”: Incarcerated Life Shared on Social Media

Cited by 2 publications

References 8 publications

Synthetic Cannabinoids in Prisons: Content Analysis of TikToks

Synthetic Cannabinoids in Prisons: Content Analysis of TikToks

Synthetic Cannabinoids in Prisons: Content Analysis of TikToks (Preprint)

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