When LGBTQ+ youth do not feel safe or accepted in their daily lives, they turn to the internet to seek community. Two new studies, conducted by the Trevor Project and Hopelab/Born This Way Foundation, each found that young LGBTQ+ people report greater rates of depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation or attempts when they do not have access to safe online communities.
“The majority of LGBTQ+ young people agreed that they go online to connect with others because it is difficult to do so in their daily lives, with 38% somewhat agreeing and 36% strongly agreeing,” according to the Trevor Project’s study.
The Hopelab study similarly found that 44% of LGBTQ+ young people feel very safe in online spaces, compared to just 9% in person. The research shows that online belonging is particularly important for the mental health of transgender youth.
“Transgender young people often have little control over their physical surroundings or the level of acceptance in their local communities,” the study notes. “However, online spaces can offer an alternative source of support — providing emotional connection, affirming content, and helpful information.”
LGBTQ+ youth remain vulnerable to the potential negative impacts of social media on teens, which have remained a hot topic among U.S. lawmakers for years.
“Even in the face of these risks, LGBTQ+ youth still report using online spaces, possibly due to the variety of benefits they can offer, like a sense of community, support, and resources,” the Trevor Project notes.
These communities foster mutual support. According to Hopelab, 74% of transgender youth reported that they regularly provide encouragement to others online.
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Such online communities have become more critical as more than 600 bills affecting LBGTQ+ individuals circulate in the U.S., restricting the expression of queer identity. Twelve states have enacted laws that limit discussions of sexuality and gender identity in schools, potentially isolating LBGTQ+ youth, who already experience worse mental health outcomes due to discrimination and harassment.
While these studies demonstrate that online communities can be beneficial for LGBTQ+ youth mental health, the research as advocates have expressed concern that new internet legislation could limit teens’ access to these supportive digital spaces.
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