You Can Form a Part of Yourself Online: The Influence of New Media on Identity Development and Coming Out for LGBTQ Youth
Abstract
Internet-based new media are increasingly utilized by lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) youth, yet little is known about the ways in which it influences their identity development. Employing grounded theory, this study explores the influence of online media on the identity development and coming out processes (n = 19) of LGBTQ youth. Results indicate that new media enabled participants to access resources, explore identity, find likeness, and digitally engage in coming out. Participants also discussed the expansion of these newly developed identities into their offline lives. Practice implications are addressed.
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Trans people often turn to online spaces to express themselves, to connect with other trans people, and to find resources and social support that are otherwise difficult to find offline.
“Trans people often turn to online spaces to express themselves, to connect with other trans people, and to find resources and social support that are otherwise difficult to find offline [17], especially in a world where gender-based violence against trans people continues to rise [114].”
From Paradoxes of Openness: Trans Experiences in Open Source Software (2024) · cites this paper as [17]
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“The internet allows LGBTIQ+ young people to explore their identities in an anonymous and safe way, seek out peers who share their identities, and come out to others in a low-risk environment [47].”
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Cascading bidirectional influences of digital media use and mental health in adolescence
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Paradoxes of Openness: Trans Experiences in Open Source Software
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- Authors
- Craig, S. L., & McInroy, L.
- Affiliations
- University of Toronto (CA)
- Venue
- Journal of Gay & Lesbian Mental Health
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2014-01
- Volume
- 18
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 95-109
- ISSN
- 1935-9705 (ISSN-L)
- 1935-9713
- OpenAlex
- W1565166707
- Cited by
- 358
- References
- 2
- Citations by year
- 2026: 38 · 2025: 28 · 2024: 45 · 2023: 42 · 2022: 37 · 2021: 42 · 2020: 42 · 2019: 27 · 2018: 14 · 2017: 18 · 2016: 15 · 2015: 5 · 2014: 4
- FWCI
- 11.00
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Gay & Lesbian Mental Health (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › LGBTQ Health, Identity, and Policy
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Impact of Technology on Adolescents
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Identity, Memory, and Therapy
- Keywords
- LGBTQ youth, identity construction, coming out, new media, online identity, online communities, social support
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