Safe spaces in online places: social media and LGBTQ youth

Abstract

This study responds to a need for research in a fast-growing and significant area of study, that of exploring, understanding and documenting the numerous ways that multiply marginalized LGBTQ youth use social media as part of their everyday experiences in an attempt to safely navigate their lives through learning, participating, engaging, communicating and constructing identities in digital spaces. The research question examined whether digital spaces, such as Facebook, provide safe spaces for multiply minoritized LGBTQ youth to express and explore issues of sexuality and gender. In addition, the study explores and categorizes multiple ways that participants interact with social media. Findings suggest that social media are an important aspect in most participants’ lives. Participants’ accessibility to social media, frequency of activity within Facebook, use of social media as a connection and exploration strategy, levels of commitment to social media and perceptions of comfort online are described. Analyses suggest that social media have become a safe space for multiply minoritized LGBTQ youth to explore issues of sexuality and gender. Because previous studies of this kind focused around this population do not exist, this study provides a baseline for continued research in the intersection of Queer studies, multicultural education and digital spaces.