Supporting LGBTQ+ young people on social media in times of heightened visibility: challenges, opportunities, strategies

ABSTARCTThis article explores how LGBTQ+ young people, service providers, and influential LGBTQ+ peers navigate social media visibility in the contemporary political and media climate. Framed by intense political attacks as well as burgeoning positive representation in popular culture, current negotiations of LGBTQ+ visibility on social media require reflection. Analysis of interview data from LGBTQ+ young people, their service providers, and social media content creators we refer to as ‘influential peers’, outlines key challenges in supporting LGBTQ+ young people on social media, including dealing with limited resources for supporting their digital safety. At the same time, participants detail opportunities for positive forms of LGBTQ+ visibility on social media. We explore participant strategies for facilitating safe, pleasurable, and meaningful uses of social media with these challenges and opportunities in mind. We emphasize the complexity of LGBTQ+ visibility on social media as an activist and mental health strategy within the contemporary political context. We conclude that further research on the practices, values, and safeties of LGBTQ+ visibilities on social media is needed.