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Post 5: Moderation, Flagging, & the Future of LGBTQ+ Digital Spaces

Digital queer communities face significant challenges, especially around content moderation, censorship, surveillance, and privacy. On major social media platforms, such as Facebook, Instagram, X, and TikTok, LGBTQ+ content is flagged or removed due to the limitations of moderation systems. Algorithms designed to filter out "inappropriate" content frequently misclassify LGBTQ+ content, especially those involving sexual orientation and gender identity, as explicit or unsuitable, leading to accounts being flagged, shadowbanned, or removed. This issue led to eight LGBTQ+ YouTubers suing YouTube and Google for flagging and shadowbanning their content. One of the creators said, “Our LGBTQ+ content is getting demonetized, restricted, and not sent out to viewers, which has highly affected our ability to reach the community we strongly want to help.” ( https://www.advocate.com/business/2019/8/14/eight-youtube-creators-sue-google-bias-against-lgbtq-content ) This leaves queer individuals vulnerable to losing the digital spaces where they can safely express themselves, access information, and connect with others just like themselves.

Privacy and surveillance concerns add another layer of complexity, especially for queer individuals in regions where queerness is illegal or stigmatized. Governments and other regulators often monitor digital spaces for evidence of “deviant” behavior, which places queer individuals at risk. Platforms may lack the necessary privacy protections, leaving users vulnerable to persecution. The potential for personal information to be exposed or hacked is a constant fear, and targeted attacks—which typically dox or out queer individuals—can lead to harassment or even legal consequences. This level of surveillance and limited privacy impacts users’ sense of security and silences their voices.

The rise of decentralized platforms and encrypted communication tools offers alternatives for queer communities to protect their identities and maintain autonomy. Platforms that prioritize encryption, for example, allow queer individuals to interact more securely, while decentralized networks allow communities to control their spaces without relying on corporate algorithms that often have limited or biased definitions of “safe” content. These alternative platforms, such as Mastodon and Diaspora, have niche digital communities tailored to specific identities and experiences. They allow queer users to form supportive spaces with control over the content and the members. As more people become aware of these platforms, they increasingly empower LGBTQ+ individuals to use digital spaces with more freedom. The development and accessibility of these secure, decentralized technologies are crucial for the future of queer digital autonomy.

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Post 4: Intersections of Identity in Queer Digital Spaces

Digital queer communities are crucial spaces for exploring intersections of identity, such as race, gender identity, sexual orientation, and class. These intersections shape how individuals relate to each other and express themselves. Many are able to find shared experiences of empowerment and marginalization. Race plays a significant role in shaping queer identities and experiences. Many online queer communities specifically focus on Black, Indigenous, and People of Color’s voices, combating the predominantly white narratives in mainstream LGBTQ+ spaces. Black queer communities often create spaces to address how racism and queerphobia intersect. They discuss issues like police violence and representation in the media. In a study conducted by the Trevor Project, they found that “TikTok is the leading online space where the most LGBTQ young people of color reported feeling safe and understood, followed by Discord, Instagram, and YouTube.” ( https://www.thetrevorproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/The-Trevor-Project_LGBTQ-Young-People-of-Color-in-Online-Spaces.pdf ) TikTok's algorithm helps contribute to this feeling of acceptance and understanding since it recommends users videos based on their interests. 

Gender identity is also explored in queer digital spaces. Transgender and nonbinary individuals find supportive spaces where they can share thoughts and ideas for gender expression, challenges with legal recognition, and strategies for navigating healthcare systems. Additionally, “digital spaces enable people that are not yet out to engage with their gender and sexual orientation.” ( https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2024/07/beyond-pride-month-protecting-digital-identities-lgbtq-people ) These communities enable members to feel validated and empowered, especially when mainstream queer spaces may focus predominantly on cisgender experiences. Similarly, different sexual orientations bring nuances to queer community spaces; for example, spaces specifically for bisexual, asexual, and other non-monosexual individuals allow for discussions around invisibility, erasure, and unique experiences within the broader LGBTQ+ context.

Class plays a further, overlooked role in shaping digital queer spaces. Queer individuals from working-class backgrounds or with low-income experiences find solidarity through shared struggles related to financial insecurity, access to resources, and the impact of economic inequality on mental health. These groups often address disparities within the queer community itself, from issues like the affordability of gender-affirming care to the cost of living in queer-friendly areas.

Through these intersections, digital queer communities create a sense of belonging and resistance that is inclusive of each individual’s unique identity. By emphasizing these connections, they push back against the more homogenizing narratives that can overlook the diverse realities within the LGBTQ+ community.

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Post 3: Digital Queer Activism and Political Movements

The rise of digital platforms has revolutionized how queer activism is organized, providing LGBTQ+ communities with opportunities to advocate for their rights and amplify their voices globally. Online spaces like Twitter, TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook have become critical tools for engaging in activism, creating solidarity, and connecting marginalized groups across boundaries. This form of digital queer activism has played a transformative role in movements for marriage equality, trans rights, and LGBTQ+ liberation.

Online platforms have enabled LGBTQ+ individuals and organizations to bypass the media and political institutions, which have excluded queer voices. Through the use of hashtags, content, and social media campaigns, activists have raised awareness about queer issues. This has increased visibility for causes that may otherwise be overlooked. Movements such as the fight for marriage equality, #LoveWins, or campaigns for transgender rights, #TransRightsAreHumanRights, have gained popularity through social media platforms.

Digital queer activism creates space for individuals who may not have the resources or opportunities to participate in traditional, physical forms of activism. This is especially important for those in regions where LGBTQ+ rights are under attack or criminalized. Online platforms provide a safe space for these individuals to share their stories and express their identities in ways that would be impossible or dangerous offline.

Platforms like Twitter and TikTok have played pivotal roles in organizing digital protests. Twitter is a hub for activist organizing, where users can coordinate marches, protests, and Pride events in real time. Additionally, users can create petitions, raise funds, and organize aid efforts. TikTok and its algorithm has allowed for sharing of content that both entertains and educates, making political issues accessible to a younger audience.

Digital queer activism also works to challenge narratives and push back against the cultural and political forces that marginalize LGBTQ+ people. For example, queer activists have used digital spaces to critique mainstream Pride events for being overly commercialized or to call out corporations engaging in "rainbow-washing", or performative allyship without meaningful action.

For queer people who experience isolation or face violence in their physical environments, online spaces offer critical resources for survival, from mental health support to organizing networks of aid. Hashtags and viral trends may spark discourse on serious issues such as LGBTQ+ youth homelessness, mental health struggles, or anti-trans violence, driving donations and resources for affected individuals.

Digital queer activism has redefined how LGBTQ+ movements are promoted, creating networks of support, promoting visibility, and pushing conversations about equality, representation, and justice. Digital platforms, even with their challenges, have become essential tools in the fight for queer liberation.

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Post 2: Content Curation Tools and Their Impact on Queer Visibility

Content curation tools help users find, organize, and share content related to a specific topic or interest. These tools include hashtags, algorithms, and tagging. Curation tools in LGBTQ+ online spaces play a crucial role in promoting community, visibility, and resources.

As mentioned in Blog Post 1, the site Reddit has spaces, or tags, called Subreddits which allow users to post to niche communities such as r/LGBT. These communities allow users to ask questions, share information, resources, and news without receiving unwanted responses from users with opposing views. On sites like Instagram, tagging posts with certain keywords or hashtags allows users to gear their content towards a specific audience. On TikTok, the algorithms can identify what kinds of users are interacting with certain filters and audios and gear similar content to these users’ feeds. These tools help users find others with similar interests, “People can find a sense of commonality amongst others with marginalized identities, and have a safe space to share their feelings and experiences as gender diverse people.” (https://medium.com/@natalie.h.streeter/queer-community-online-and-the-rise-of-tiktok-735f459a4f61) TikTok aims to connect users to others with similar interests and is based on community. This is a big part of the reason why many LGBTQ people turned to TikTok during the pandemic. It was easy for users to connect with others that shared interests with them. Additionally, Pinterest’s algorithm recognizes which pins users interact with, thus promoting LGBT pins to those saving related content. 

Having a safe space online often means that users with opposing views may try to infiltrate it with harassment, bullying, and trolling. Many online platforms, including forums and social media groups, have implemented stricter moderation policies. This includes verifying users, employing community moderators, and using AI tools to detect and remove harmful content.

Due to this issue, LGBTQ+ organizations and community leaders often share resources and guides on identifying potential infiltrators. This education helps members recognize red flags, such as overly aggressive questioning or attempts to undermine trust in community narratives. Additionally, platforms encourage users to report suspicious behavior and many communities have established clear reporting guidelines to make it easier for members to flag infiltrators. Some online spaces provide ways for members to seek support without revealing their identities, reducing the risk of targeted attacks from infiltrators.

The LGBTQ+ community emphasizes the importance of fostering a strong sense of trust and solidarity among members. By encouraging open dialogue and support, communities can become more resilient to infiltration attempts. Creating private groups or closed forums can help ensure that discussions remain within trusted circles, reducing the likelihood of infiltrators accessing sensitive conversations.

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Post 1: Digital Spaces Are Vital for the LGBTQ+ Community

For years, the LGBTQ+ community has searched for ways to bring members of the community together and support each other. Before the vast majority was able to have technology at their fingertips 24/7, finding those who related to their struggles and feelings was more difficult. The Queer community has historical struggles with visibility, acceptance, and safe spaces in physical environments. As technology has progressed, there has been a key tool that many Queer people have turned to: digital spaces. 

Digital spaces can be found all throughout the internet today. Many seek refuge in digital safe spaces when people in their physical, daily lives do not seem to understand or relate to their struggles as someone in the LGBTQ+ community. Digital spaces have become vital tools for LGBTQ+ communities to find safety, solidarity, and shared identity online. 

In the 1970s, prior to the rise of the popular social media platforms we all know today, chat rooms and forums were among the first digital spaces where LGBTQ+ people could connect. These rooms and forums were often anonymous or semi-private, so people could discuss identity, relationships, and activism with ease. Avery Dame-Griff, a Lecturer in Women’s and Gender Studies at Gonzaga University, states, “Communicating via computer reduced the risk of outing or retaliation, and the technology allowed those without a local queer community to stay connected.” (https://www.processhistory.org/dame-griff-how-computers-transformed-lgbtq-life/) 

The first platform that introduced these forums and chat rooms was the bulletin board system, or the BBS, in 1978. This platform required a microcomputer, open phone line, and a modem to dial in. There were other features as well, including games and file libraries. The platform became more popular in the late 1980s with the first Gay and Lesbian BBS Lists being published to the site. There was even an anonymous discussion and exploration space for those who were questioning or not out of the closet yet. People were able to connect with those in their specific area code and local communities. The lists were mainly used for hosting fundraisers, get togethers, and political organizing. During the AIDS epidemic, the bulletin was used to spread awareness, organize protests, and circulate key information. The site is also credited with being vital for transgender people’s support and communication with one another when it was dangerous to express your true self in public. (https://www.processhistory.org/dame-griff-how-computers-transformed-lgbtq-life/) 

Since this time, we have come a long way with the platforms that we have access to. In the 1990s and early 2000s, the most used sites for connecting with others were AOL, MySpace, Blogger, and Tumblr. These sites gave users access to chat rooms and safe spaces that appealed to their personal niches. Tumblr became a haven for LGBTQ+ expression, art, and storytelling. The site’s format allowed for anonymity and the sharing of personal experiences and fan culture, which was deeply tied to queerness. MySpace allowed LGBTQ+ users to shape their online identities through customized profiles and music preferences, which often reflected queer subcultures.

Today the internet keeps expanding with a plethora of platforms available for those seeking refuge online. Some of the most popular sites include Reddit, Discord, and TikTok. Reddit allows niche communities to form around sexual orientation and gender identity with spaces called Subreddits. These are sections that are based on and discuss specific topics, for example: r/LGBT, r/actuallesbians, and r/NonBinary. On Discord, users can create private servers for smaller, curated queer communities. This offers users greater privacy and real-time chat features. TikTok allows LGBTQ+ creators to share stories, educate others, and build visibility. The app’s algorithm helps these creators build platforms and express themselves to a wide audience.

These platforms have been crucial for LGBTQ+ youth and young adults seeking connections with those who understand their struggles in a world where they still face discrimination.