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It’s my safe space: The life-saving role of the internet in the lives of transgender and gender diverse youth
Open accessAbstract
Background: Public awareness of Transgender and Gender Diverse (TGD) identities has grown significantly; however, acceptance and support remain elusive for many TGD youth. Resultant experiences of marginalization and stigmatization contribute to elevated rates of psychological distress and suicidality among TGD youth. Emergent evidence suggests that the internet may offer TGD youth safety, support, and community previously unavailable.Aim: The primary aim of this qualitative inquiry is to engage in an in-depth exploration of the online experiences and processes which help protect against psychological distress and promote well-being among TGD youth.Methods: Data were culled from a mixed-methods, online study of sexual and gender minority youth from across the United States and Canada which followed Institutional Review Board approved protocols. Participants for this study represent a sample (n = 260) of TGD participants aged 14–22 (x̄ = 17.30). Data were analyzed using Charmaz’ grounded theory strategies.Results: Data revealed that the internet offers TGD youth affirming spaces that, for the most part, do not exist in their offline lives. Online, TGD youth were able to engage meaningfully with others as their authentic selves, often for the first time. These experiences fostered well-being, healing, and growth through five processes: 1. Finding an escape from stigma and violence, 2. Experiencing belonging, 3. Building confidence, 4. Feeling hope, and 5. Giving back.Discussion: The unique and innovative ways in which participants use online spaces to foster resilience offer important insights to inform affirmative practices with TGD young people.
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“these spaces are often the first point of contact for TGD individuals beginning to challenge or explore their gender identity [12,27,28].”
From A Phenomenological Investigation into Cyberbullying as Experienced by People Identifying as Transgender or Gender Diverse (2022) · cites this paper as [12]
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredThe source backs part of the claim, not all of it — or backs it for a different population, condition or comparison.
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“Many TGD individuals rely on online friendships and communities as their primary form of social support [12,28].”
From A Phenomenological Investigation into Cyberbullying as Experienced by People Identifying as Transgender or Gender Diverse (2022) · cites this paper as [12]
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“The ability to live authentically and to have their gender identity acknowledged and accepted by friends, both those TGD themselves and cisgender allies, appeared to lessen the impact of victimization, which is consistent with previous research [12,25].”
From A Phenomenological Investigation into Cyberbullying as Experienced by People Identifying as Transgender or Gender Diverse (2022) · cites this paper as [12]
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“Online TGD spaces can facilitate a sense of community for TGD individuals who might otherwise be isolated from the wider TGD community”
From A Phenomenological Investigation into Cyberbullying as Experienced by People Identifying as Transgender or Gender Diverse (2022) · cites this paper as [12]
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“For TGD individuals, social support is a vitally important source of resilience and a protective factor against the effects of victimization [12,25,28].”
From A Phenomenological Investigation into Cyberbullying as Experienced by People Identifying as Transgender or Gender Diverse (2022) · cites this paper as [12]
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“Specifically, creating and leveraging safer, affirming spaces [6, 75, 76], reducing barriers to mental health services, supporting community-based interventions, and delivering evidence-based interventions tailored to SGMY identities, experiences, and mental health needs [77], can reduce the risks of suicide [8].”
From Suicide among youth and young adults in Canada: bereaved parents' perspectives on the systems of care (2025) · cites this paper as [75]
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“Being able to live authentically and true to their gender identity is critical for the mental health and wellbeing of TGD individuals of all ages”
From A Phenomenological Investigation into Cyberbullying as Experienced by People Identifying as Transgender or Gender Diverse (2022) · cites this paper as [12]
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“having access to online spaces often provides this opportunity even when this may not be an option in their offline lives [12].”
From A Phenomenological Investigation into Cyberbullying as Experienced by People Identifying as Transgender or Gender Diverse (2022) · cites this paper as [12]
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“Although hope has not been extensively studied in racially and ethnically diverse youth populations, hope has been associated with positive affect, life satisfaction, and support from loved ones among Mexican–American youth (n = 135) [37] while grounded theory research has identified importance of hope among transgend…”
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“The internet and online spaces are important resources for transgender people.(34,35) This finding demonstrates the potential power of social media as a health outreach tool and the key role it may play in HIV prevention for trans MSM in the era of biobehavioral prevention.”
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“…individuals seeking information and connection, which may explain why an online survey of more than 6000 LGBTQ adolescents and young adults throughout North America found that time spent on YouTube outweighed time spent on other social media platforms (see Austin et al., 2020; Craig et al., 2021).”
BackgroundInfluential
Metadata
- Authors
- Austin, A., Craig, S. L., Navega, N., & McInroy, L. B.
- Affiliations
- Barry University (US)
- University of Toronto (CA)
- The Ohio State University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Austin, Ashley
- Venue
- International Journal of Transgender Health
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2020-01-02
- Volume
- 21
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 33-44
- ISSN
- 2689-5269 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC7430466
- OpenAlex
- W3000113576
- Cited by
- 106
- References
- 51
- Citations by year
- 2026: 18 · 2025: 23 · 2024: 22 · 2023: 16 · 2022: 15 · 2021: 8 · 2020: 4
- FWCI
- 11.75
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- europepmc.org
- Locations
- International Journal of Transgender Health (publishedVersion)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (498466)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › LGBTQ Health, Identity, and Policy
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Impact of Technology on Adolescents
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Health Literacy and Information Accessibility
- Keywords
- transgender youth, gender-diverse youth, online communities, internet use, psychological distress, suicidality, sense of belonging, self-affirmation, resilience, stigma, well-being, sexual and gender minority youth
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