Post your journey: analyzing the formation of an instagram support community for those living with fibromyalgia
Date
2016-12-23
Authors
Berard, Ashley Ann
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Abstract
Fibromyalgia is a chronic illness characterized by debilitating symptoms such as unpredictable widespread pain, fatigue and migraines. Social support can be a crucial factor in illness management for individuals living with this medically contested, stigmatized and marginalized illness. For many, social media is a significant aspect of their daily reality and in this social space, new forms of relationships and communities have begun to form. This study explores the ways in which a new form of support community for fibromyalgia develops and maintains itself on the social media platform Instagram. A mixed-method research design incorporating both a content and semiotic analysis of Instagram posts as well as interviews with participants utilizing the app was conducted to shed light on the ways in which the relatively new phenomenon of sharing illness experience and support occur on Instagram.
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Keywords
Chronic Illness, Fibromyalgia, Social Media, Health, Instagram, Online Community