Mary Balle, a CSHP doctoral student, was recently awarded first place in the gradute student Health and Behavioral Science division at Indiana University's Women's Research Poster Competition. The poster presentation "Choking on TikTok: Memetic Content Analysis of Sexual Choking on TikTok" reflected her recent efforts in understanding social media posts/content related to sexual choking.
The study used a multi-modal content analysis over three memetic dimensions (Content, Form, and Stance) to explore the top 100 TikTok videos with #chokekink collected over two dates in December 2023 and January 2024. Thematic content analysis and categorical analysis techniques were used.
Some results included that there was more content around desiring or wanting to be choked or to engage in rougher sex rather than discussions of safety and/or sex education. The short time-length of the videos presented one-sided perspectives rather than informed, nuanced conversations about safety as well as pleasure. These findings support the need for social media content around the health consequences of sexual choking directed towards adolescents and young adults, especially on applications suited for providing longer format education.