Generational differences in social media use, gender identity, and sexuality among young LGBTIQ+ people in Australia

Brady Robards, Brendan Churchill, Son Vivienne, Benjamin Hanckel, Paul Byron

Research output: Chapter in Book / Conference PaperConference Paperpeer-review

Abstract

![CDATA[For LGBTIQ+ people, the internet and social media are key channels for communicating and connecting with queer peers, and learning about queer life and queer experiences. While digital social spaces have evolved over the past 20 to 30 years, many of the motivations for using these platforms remain the same. This paper draws on data from the Scrolling Beyond Binaries study, centred on a national Australian survey of 1,304 young LGBTIQ+ people. We present key findings from the study examining generational differences across our four age cohorts of our young respondents: 16–20, 21–25, 26–30 and 30–35. Even among this group of young people, we find stark differences by age in self-identification related to gender and sexuality, and also patterns of difference in the social media platforms they use. Our younger respondents identify with much more fluid forms of gender and sexuality, and also tend to favour dating and hook-up apps that are more inclusive. We seek to foreground the ways in which the internet continues to be significant for our respondents for social connection and learning. We also add to our understandings of the complex and evolving ways in which young LGBTIQ+ people use and thus (re)produce digital social spaces, returning to Nina Wakeford’s (2000 [1997]) consideration of ‘cyberqueer spaces’.]]
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationSelected Papers in Internet Research 2019: 20th Annual Conference of the Association of Internet Researchers, 2-5 October 2019, Brisbane, Australia
PublisherAssociation of Internet Researchers
Number of pages4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2019
EventInternet Research Conference -
Duration: 2 Oct 2019 → …

Publication series

Name
ISSN (Print)2162-3317

Conference

ConferenceInternet Research Conference
Period2/10/19 → …

Keywords

  • sexual minority youth
  • gender identity
  • sex
  • social media

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