Abstract
Twitter has become a primary platform for promoting social justice and human rights, including LGBTQ people. This research investigates how Twitter has raised awareness, acceptance, and support for the LGBTQ community. This research will examine how Twitter has influenced the physical health and well-being of LGBTQ through acceptance and understanding of these populations. The terms lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queers describe groups within the gay culture. According to Heck, Poteat & Goodenow (2016), youth are primarily associated with this community; however, these young people who primarily identify as LGBTQ can experience several challenges because of how other people respond to their gender expression or sexual orientation. Due to this associated stress and challenges young people face, they are likely to use illegal drugs, experience homelessness and attempt suicide. Nowadays, teenagers have grown up online, and social media has provided a platform for LGBTQ youngsters to explore their identities. This study intends to recruit study participants from Twitter platforms using snowball sampling. This sampling technique will facilitate the recruitment of other LGBTQ members through referrals. Snowball sampling can be an appropriate technique for identifying potential LGBTQ research subjects. The identified sample population will be interviewed to capture participants’ experiences and perspectives on how Twitter has promoted acceptance, awareness, and support for LGBTQ. Data collected shall be analyzed using thematic analysis. The study expects that Twitter has significantly elevated acceptance and understanding of the diverse experiences and perspectives of LGBTQ individuals. The results of this study are aimed at providing insights into tolerance and awareness of the many backgrounds and perspectives of LGBTQ people. In the long run, these communities can gain acceptance across societies.
Keywords: LGBTQ, social media, youths (young people)
Introduction
Over the past two decades, issues regarding LGBTQ in the young population have gained significant recognition as a kind of cultural and social identity (McInroy, & Craig, 2017). Reports on LGBTQ by Kaasbøll, Pedersen, & Paulsen (2022) present that the young LGBTQ population is heavily presented across the child welfare system. Society is continually gaining recognition of LGBTQ. This observation can be linked to media and its power in shaping attitudes towards minorities and sexuality. The interconnected world via virtual contacts has portrayed LGBTQ to wider youth audiences facilitating their learning of LGBTQ. McInroy, & Craig (2017) describes media as the center promoter of social knowledge concerning LGBTQ identities. In North America, youths aged 12 to 18 spend an average of 8 hours on media. Media consumption in America is increasing, with 89% of emerging adults consuming information from social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter (McInroy, & Craig, 2017).
As this trend in media consumption increases, access to media content on various constructs, including LGBTQ, is intensifying. This calls for investigations aimed at defining social media’s influence in promoting LGBTQ in youths. This study intends to investigate the role of Twitter in promoting LBTQ to provide an understanding of the role of Twitter in promoting support and acceptance of LGBTQ to create a positive society. Also, the findings of this research will provide details on the influence of technology on social constructs.
Literature review
Young adults and adolescents in the LBTQ community experience social isolation, harassment, and peer or family rejections. Mclnroy et al. (2019) report that negative social environment settings that the LGBTQ community dwells in can predispose them to develop adverse mental health compared to non-LGBTQ members. In attempts to understand the role of the internet in promoting the well-being of the LGBTQ, Mclnroy et al. (2019), through secondary data analysis, found that LGBTQ youths use the internet to access information regarding their relationships, sexuality, and gender together with their sexual, physical, and mental health. Through media like Twitter, the LBTQ youths can create online identity community connections and access content that validates their experiences. These activities can be challenging in offline spaces due to fear of exposure and society’s judgment (Mclnroy et al., 2019).
Tuah & Mazlan (202after interviewing Malaysian LGBTQ youths on whether Twitter is a safe space for LGBTQ youths, discloses that youth LGBTQs find it uneasy to define or portray their sexual orientation because society can stigmatize them. They use Twitter to express their sexualities and share their life realities fully. According to Tuah & Mazlan (2020), Twitter is an asylum for LGBTQ youths to gain social audiences that can support them and express themselves. This research informs that LGBTQ youths can tend to camouflage with two identities to fit into society and their real life. They conform to society’s expectations in real life but express their true selves on social media platforms like Twitter. The approach by Tuah & Mazlan (2020) can be borrowed for my research. Their approach appeals to be very practicable to youths in a learning institution.
Works by Paradis (2016) that employed survey questionnaires and focused group discussions as study tools revealed that sexual and gender minorities find online communities as supportive and comforting as far as sexuality is concerned. Paradis (2016) explains that sexual and gender minority youths use social media to socialize and gain a sense of belonging more than any other purpose. From these studies, I am informed that my research should not hypothesize that the LGBTQ community has poor social skills.
Regarding social media as a digital space for emotional and social safety, Brown Line (2018) analyses blog tweets, and per his findings, Twitter allows the oppressed to share their distress. However, the researcher argues that this can apply to bloggers whose sharing can keep distresses at bay. A randomized correlation meta-analysis of LGBTQ people and psychological distresses demonstrated the average effect of distress in LGBTQ samples. Brown line’s (2018) analysis on the influence of tweet blogging and the reaction from Twitter subscribers and as per the findings of this investigation, Twitter can be a social tool that safeguards the well-being of individuals and, at the same time, a perfect platform that safeguards digital space and promotes outreach. Blogs constructed to trigger discussions on LGBTQ can attract commercialized responses that can support LGBTQ peers to open up their emotions in a disembodied manner that cannot identify the spatial location of the parties. However, blogging that involves LGBTQ can capture contents that can be sensitive. Instead of promoting the social wellness of the community, it can have significant negative influences on the well-being of the affected individuals.
Exploration of the role of social media networking as an avenue that provides teaching experiences to LGBTQ Fox and Ralston (2016) suggests that social media can be an informal learning environment for the LGBTQ youth as they pass through the identity development process. Craig et al. (2021) investigated how social media enhanced LGBTQ in youths and their well-being. Their findings portray that social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram can enhance the well-being of these populations. These enhancements are attained through social media, facilitating an exploration of LGBTQ identities, providing information on access to resources, and connecting these members to their peers.
From the above pieces of literature, Twitter, as a social media component, has influenced the promotion of LGBTQ in varied ways. Significant researchers from this review have argued t that Twitter promotes the well-being of the LGBTQ community by creating favorable virtual social audiences and learning environments for their developmental identities; however, Twitter has the potential to present negative influences that can threaten well being of the LGBTQ community. Frequent use of Twitter can be associated with emotional distresses due to loneliness. Twitter is reportedly easily used for cyberbullying, random criticism, and ridiculing (Sakurai et al .,2021). This calls for research that evaluates the efficacy of Twitter in promoting LGBTQ to inform on possible strategies that can be used in regulating media to prioritize optimized care for the LGBTQ community in the digital generation.
Study objectives
This research aims to provide an in-depth understanding of the influence of Twitter on the overall well-being of LGBTQ individuals at Oregon University. The researcher intends to investigate the role of Twitter as a social media platform in influencing acceptance and understanding of LGBTQ as a strategy that reduces stigmatization and improves the experiences and outcomes of the LGBTQ population at Oregon University. To fully attain the aim of this research, the following objectives will guide this research.
- To identify the rate at which the LGBTQ youth community at Oregon University interacts with Twitter to access information that supports their identity.
- To investigate how Twitter has influenced the mental health and well-being of the LGBTQ youth community at Oregon University
Methods
The target population for this study shall be the LGBTQ youth students within Oregon University who use Twitter as a platform to express their sexuality. I will focus on interviewing active LGBTQ Twitter subscribers to gain data that will be analyzed to give clear insights into how LGBTQ youths have promoted the acceptance and well-being of LGBTQ within the college. Oregon College, as one of the learning institutions recognized to be best for LGBTQIA + students, with an active and engaged LGBTQ student community, is a beneficial study site for this research. The college contains diverse populations with a population age set that covers my research interests. Oregon University has implemented policies that promote acceptance and inclusivity for LGBTQ. Additionally, this college offers safe environments for LGBTQ members to find community and connect with others. This study site seemed an ideal conflict-free study site.
The researcher will use qualitative research with a snowball sampling technique to recruit the study participants. LGBTQ organization representatives within Oregon University will be requested to invite two members from each definition of LGBTQ through referrals. Lesbians participants shall be identified as females attracted sexually to other females, Gay-male with sexual attraction to other males, Bisexual-individuals with sexual attraction to both sexes, Transgender-individuals with sexual identities different from their assigned sex during birth, and queers-individuals without a particular sexual identity falls in any of these sexes. (LGBTQIA,2022). The recruited study participants should have active Twitter accounts. The recruited population sample will be interviewed using open-ended questions to capture respondents’ experiences on Twitter in promoting their identity and well-being. The interviews shall be recorded in audio forms for later analysis. Considering the sensitivity and complexity of the research subject, the researcher prefers snowball sampling to quickly identify the sample population through potential referrals.
Data analysis
Data captured during the interviews shall be analyzed using thematic analysis by identifying the relevant themes, ideas, and patterns of investigation subjects (Caulfield, 2022). Data analysis will s begin by transcribing the audio and reviewing the short notes taken during the interview data captured shall be coded to highlight various ideas and their meanings (Caulfield, 2022). Coded information shall be reviewed to identify patterns between them; later, grouped codes will construct different themes relevant to this study (Caulfield, 2022). Derived themes shall be ensured that they accurately represent data, after which the researcher will interpret and analyze the collected data to gain a deeper understanding of different perspectives of LGBTQ youths at Oregon University concerning the influence of Twitter in promoting well-being through awareness and acceptance of LGBTQ. The researcher shall explore various themes and develop hypotheses.
Ethical considerations
Since this research involves human subjects, the researcher will seek ethical approval from the institutional review board. Some of the ethical considerations that this research will consider include; voluntary participation from study participants, who shall be assured they can opt out of this study without any consequences. The participants must be presented with informed consent regarding the purpose of the study, the risks, and its benefits. The researcher must ensure that information provided by the study participants is confidential and not accessed by parties outside the research team. The researcher guarantees anonymity for this research and respects participants’ identities.
Dissemination
These research findings will be peer-reviewed and vetted for academic standards before they are published in academic journals on Media studies. Additionally, the findings of this research can be posted in the institutional repository for retrieval at any time individuals might need access to information regarding LGBTQ promotion through social media. This study will provide academic researchers with working literature that can provide insights for future research on social media and LGBTQ. Policymakers can be availed with relevant information that can inform on policing and practice in social media and well being of the LGBTQ community. For example, the findings of this research can be used in drafting policies that can structure media platforms to diversify care for all individuals, regardless of their sexual orientation. Some potential beneficiaries of this study include media departments, psychological departments, and LGBTQ groups.
References
Admin, S.F. (2022). LGBTQIA Resource Center Glossary, LGBTQIA Resource Center. Available at: https://lgbtqia.ucdavis.edu/educated/glossary
Brownlie, J. (2018). Looking out for each other online: Digital outreach, emotional surveillance, and safe (r) spaces. Emotion, Space and Society, pp. 27, 60–67. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S175545861730124X
Caulfield, J. (2022, November 25). How to Do Thematic Analysis | Step-by-Step Guide & Examples. Scribbr. https://www.scribbr.com/methodology/thematic-analysis
Craig, S. L., Eaton, A. D., McInroy, L. B., Leung, V. W., & Krishnan, S. (2021). Can social media participation enhance LGBTQ+ youth’s well-being? Development of the social media benefits scale. Social Media+ Society, 7(1), 2056305121988931. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/2056305121988931
Heck, N. C., Poteat, V. P., & Goodenow, C. S. (2016). Advances in research with LGBTQ youth in schools. Psychology of sexual orientation and gender diversity, 3(4), 381. https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2016-59420-001
Kaasbøll, J., Pedersen, S. A., & Paulsen, V. (2022). What is known about the LGBTQ perspective in child welfare services: A scoping review. Child & Family Social Work, 27(2), 358-369. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/9/9/e030675.abstract
McInroy, L. B., & Craig, S. L. (2017). Perspectives of LGBTQ emerging adults on the depiction and impact of LGBTQ media representation. Journal of youth studies, 20(1), 32-46 https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/13676261.2016.1184243
McInroy, L. B., McCloskey, R. J., Craig, S. L., & Eaton, A. D. (2019). LGBTQ+ youths’ community engagement and resource-seeking online versus offline. Journal of Technology in Human Services, 37(4), 315–333. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/15228835.2019.1617823
Moe, J. L. (2016). Wellness and distress in LGBTQ populations: A meta-analysis. Journal of LGBT Issues in Counseling, 10(2), 112–129. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/15538605.2016.1163520
Paradis, E. (2016). Searching for self and society: Sexual and gender minority youth online. In LGBTQ voices in education (pp. 87–101). Routledge. https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9781315643403-9/searching-self-society-elise-paradis
Sakurai, R., Nemoto, Y., Mastunaga, H., & Fujiwara, Y. (2021). Who is mentally healthy? Mental health profiles of Japanese social networking service users with a focus on LINE, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Plos one, 16(3), e0246090. https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0246090
Tuah, K. M., & Mazlan, U. S. (2020). Twitter as a safe space for self-disclosure among Malaysian LGBTQ youths. Jurnal Komunikasi: Malaysian Journal of Communication, 36(1), 436-448. https://www.academia.edu/download/64897587/38611_122945_1_PB.pdf
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