For LGBTQ youth, access to online spaces can be vital

For queer youth, access to the internet is vital for mental health

MELISSA WHITLER | NBCU Fellow
Melissa@DallasVoice.com

The internet has become an essential part of our daily lives. Despite its drawbacks, it provides much-needed space to connect with community and resources.
For LGBTQ youth, access to online spaces can be even more vital. Studies have found that queer youth are online more, averaging about 45 more minutes per day, than their non-LGBTQ peers. The internet provides vital spaces for people to express who they are and to access resources not available to them in person.

According to the Human Rights Campaign’s 2023 LGBTQ+ Youth Report, 95.3 percent of LGBTQ youth have used the internet to find information related to understanding their identity.

Being able to connect with other queer people can have a large effect on the mental health of LGBTQ youth. For those living in places without a strong LGBTQ community, social media might be the only place they can talk openly about gender and sexuality. Those who felt safe in at least one online space reported 15 percent fewer symptoms of anxiety and were 20 percent less likely to have attempted suicide in the past year. The ease of anonymity on many social media websites allows youth to test out identities and connect with others without fear of it impacting their in-person life.

Online communities might be the only place where transgender and gender diverse youth feel safe expressing their authentic self. One study found that these spaces were meaningful in multiple ways, as young people were able to find an escape from stigma and violence, build confidence and feel a sense of belonging and hope. For Gen Z and Gen Alpha, online spaces are especially important for social development, as many have experienced limitations involving face-to-face socialization.

This holds true especially for LGBTQ youth of color. While there is concern of being exposed to the racism that is rampant on the internet, there are specific platforms where LGBTQ young people of color feel safer. Research has found that LGBTQ youth of color reported feeling safer on social media apps such as TikTok, Instagram, Twitter and LGBTQ social networking sites than their white peers. For those living in more conservative areas, there might not be anywhere else for them to connect with other LGBTQ peers.

Not surprisingly, TikTok was the leading online space where queer youth of color reported feeling safe and understood. Following TikTok were Discord, Instagram and YouTube. The websites with the lowest reported feelings of safety for all LGBTQ youth were Steam, dating apps and Facebook. While Facebook advertises inclusivity with a plethora of gender identification options and promotion of Pride, this has not translated to actual experiences on the app, studies show.

One North Texas organization that knows how imperative online communities are is Pride Frisco. It has successfully cultivated a space for their community on Discord, and one of its main values is creating safe and affirming spaces to foster relationships.

For its younger members, Pride Frisco has a Discord group chat that is rigorously monitored. There are different channels for different topics, so members can participate in discussions about their interests without having to wade through discussions around other topics. Categories extend beyond just LGBTQ concerns because Pride Frisco wants to make sure all the different facets of its members’ lives are acknowledged.

This online community is often the first point of contact young LGBTQ community members make with the organization. Founders Jon and Justin Culpepper emphasize how important this space has been: “It’s been so inspiring to see some members join exclusively online, start to connect and make friends, to eventually move to feeling comfortable enough to attend a Pride event in person,” the Culpeppers shared.

They’ve worked hard to cultivate a supportive group that remains respectful and affirming. “It’s important that our members feel safe and trust this space,” Jon Culpepper said. “This way people feel confident to ask questions and learn about others’ identities.”

The group chat has a no tolerance policy for any negativity. The minute any word of disrespect or intolerance reaches the Culpeppers, that person is removed, no questions asked.

Of course, not all spaces are so intentional, and caution is paramount when giving young people access to the internet. There will always be adults looking to take advantage of the young and trusting.
Organizations such as the Trevor Project have compiled safety guides to help folks navigate the internet. Digital literacy is an important skill that can help LGBTQ youth increase the amount of positive interactions online. Mental health concerns arise from discrimination and victimization experienced online, as well as website policies that do not accommodate changed identities. We have to be deliberate in keeping LGBTQ youth online safe without cutting off their access.

The FBI offers a Safe Online Surfing Program for kids to learn about cyber safety and how to responsibility navigate the internet.

In our current political climate, it is especially important to protect adolescents’ access to the internet. While many of us might dismiss TikTok as a silly app meant for funny dance videos, it can be a safe haven for many young people. This is why the possibility of a national ban of the app is such a concern. If TikTok ceased to be accessible in the U.S., LGBTQ youth, and especially youth of color, would lose access to a space where they can be themselves and connect with others like them. This can have isolating effects that negatively impact mental health.

There are other concerns here in Texas specifically. In 2023, Texas legislators proposed multiple bills concerning minors’ use of social media. While only two of them were enacted, this shows the legislature’s obsession with the issue, and the possibility for more regulations during the next session.

One of the bills passed, HB18, also known as the SCOPE Act, has the directive of protecting minors from harm and unfair use of their data. It requires social media companies to acquire parental consent before kids can create an account and use the app. The law also gives parents access to all data collected on the child. This poses a problem for LGBTQ youth, who could potentially be outed were their parents to see them accessing LGBTQ resources and websites. Texas youth are more limited in how they explore their identities and connect with others if they live in households that are not affirming.

The other bill that was passed, HB1181, requires websites with pornographic content to verify the age of users. With the noble goal of restricting minors’ access to sexually explicit content, the ambiguous definition of pornography leaves much up to interpretation. Historically, bans on pornography have been used to justify restrictions on information about LGBTQ issues and contraceptives. Given the conservative nature of the Texas government, it is possible this new law could be extended to limit young people’s access to LGBTQ resources and community.

LGBTQ adolescents’ access to the internet has to be protected, as it provides invaluable support and connection. Affirming online spaces can positively impact youth’s mental health and allow them to explore their identities. Blanket restrictions can do more harm than good, isolating or potentially outing them. Safety must be balanced with the recognition of the importance of internet use in our daily lives.

This story is part of the Digital Equity Local Voices Fellowship lab. The lab initiative is made possible with support from Comcast NBC Universal and News Is Out