The Impact of Social Media on LGBTQ+ Teens
Pride month; the time where those in the LGBTQ+ community are celebrated. Primarily, this is celebrated in the month of June to commemorate the Stonewall Riots. The riot took place between June 28th to July 3rd of 1969 in which the LGBT community chose to fight against the police who were conducting raids on gay bars. Around the world, many celebrate Pride month in many ways, ranging from rallies to parties.
In the modern world, with the evolution of society, more teenagers are coming out. Back then, those who identified as part of the LGBTQ+ community were looked down upon and shunned away from society. Though this still happens today in many parts of the world, there have been progress when it comes to accepting them all.
On the note of the present-day changes, technology has become our best friend. Social media has become a crucial part of life to most teenagers. Meeting people, influencing others and talking to your friends have all become a feat on the tip of our fingertips. Social media has the ability to make and break someone. Even though there are people out there on the internet who find joy in taking you down, there are also those who support you.
The LGBTQ+ community has been using social media to support each other, raise awareness and fight for justice. This is especially important to teenagers as they are in a stage of finding themselves. It is vital for a teenager who is a part of the LGBTQ+ community to find their safe space within the internet as it can be a tough place.
The secure environment one needs in social media depends on three main factors; the self, their relationships and society. Truth be told, in a world with absurd expectations, most teenagers are not entirely secure of themselves. As of 2021, GLAAD, a non-profit organisation that monitors the defamatory coverage of those in the LGBTQ+ community, graded leading platforms on their social media safety. It was reported that Youtube, Tik Tok, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram have all played their part in making a hostile environment for those in the community.
In terms of the relationships, the audience of a person or better known as the followers of the individual, may have differential opinions. If these followers leave hate comments or execute any form of disrespectful actions, it may be considered as cyber-bullying. This is a recurring issue that those in the LGBTQ+ community face on social media platforms.
Some countries are against their LGBTQ+ communities and it reflects on their social media limitations. Those who openly identify with the community end up being prejudiced by their own governments. This paints a picture of a hostile society in which the individual is stuck to.
With a growing LGBTQ+ community within teenagers, it is vital that they feel safe whilst on social media. Classic cyber-bullying often leads to mental health issues which teenagers are more prone to. With the added pressure on their sexuality/gender this predicament may be doubled. Teenagers today use social media as a way to escape from the real world. How can social media be improved to make a more inclusive environment for these LGBTQ+ teens?
Pronouns
Many today identify with other pronouns rather than the normal she/her or he/him. Including the option to choose pronouns allows teenagers to know that they are accepted for who they are. This makes a safer community which is more mindful and inclusive for one’s identity.
Hate Speech
Even though social media platforms have policies and algorithms made to tackle the issue of hate speech, it is not as effective. A safe environment lies in the core of all social media platforms. This includes strengthening and updating their algorithms and policies to ensure that those in the LGBTQ+ community are not targeted. This also prevents possible bullying issues that could lead to mental health issues that teenagers are more susceptible to.
Adding More Gender Options
Most social media platforms inquire about gender when we first sign up. The most seen options include that of Female, Male, Prefer Not to Say or even Others. When teenagers first sign up to these social media platforms, these options would end up making them feel as though they are not accepted. This may make some feel like imposters or as if they don’t belong. Taking Instagram as an example, an option can be added for people to put the gender that they identify with so as to not make them feel limited or restricted.
Re-evaluate Hashtags
Recently, Tik Tok has been under fire for restricting certain LGBTQ+ hashtags. This was the app’s response to “provide locally sensitive moderation”. Some use hashtags as a medium to express themselves. Banning these hashtags only promote anti-LGBTQ+ note to its users.
Social media is supposed to be a platform in which individual’s could use to express themselves and connect with communities. Limiting their abilities while promoting prejudice against the LGBTQ+ communities belittles them especially when they are teenagers. This is due to the fact that teenagers are on their path to finding themselves but they would not be able to do that when they cannot find communities to relate with.
By: Anyaa Shrii Kumar
