<\/p>\n\n\n\n
ABSTRACT<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Global communication which was, long ago difficult or even\nimpossible, has now been made easy and possible with the advent of the\ninternet. The impact of the internet on\nLGBT life is significant on the sense that LGBT youth do not have to be\nphysically mobile in order to meet others in the same community. Some time\nback,meetings were bound to occur only in gay bars or clubs or other designed\nplaces. Nowadays, connections are possible via the digital sphere. This\nevolution allows LGBT individuals to socialize and even find life partners\nwithout leaving the comfort and safety of their homes. Social platforms via the\ninternet enable young persons to discover and forge their sexual identity and\norientation. Subsequently they can be provided with proper frame and\nsupport.(Niman 2017). <\/p>\n\n\n\n
INTRODUCTION<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It is widely believed that the online environment is a refuge\nfor individuals in minority groups who want to voice out their opinions without\nfear of being criticized or sanctioned by society. For\ninstance, people who belong to the lgbt community can express themselves freely\nand share common experiences. Specific social networks have been set up to\noffer assistance to those in need. These networks help the lgbt youth to affirm\ntheir identity thus increasing their self-esteem and becoming more\nself-confident. Studies have proved that the internet is an inexhaustible\nsource of information and support for people in common situations and at a\ndisadvantaged social position and create more social justice. (Alex 2016).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
THE USE OF ONLINE SOURCE OF INFORMATION FOR LGBTQ INDIVIDUALS<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Online information and data relative to Lesbian and gay\nindividuals being easily accessible, the latter may gain support for enhancing\ntheir quality of life. Since physical\ndisplacement is not essential to meet other people of the same community, the\n\u201ccoming out\u201d process can prove to be smoother and easier. The person who feels understood and supported\nby his fellow mates will definitely perform better in all spheres of his\nlife. Moreover, constructive data may lead heterosexual\nindividuals to change their look on LGBTQ individuals and bring them to more\ncompassion and comprehension on their part. \nThis can also result in a decrease in homophobes who were wrongly or\nnegatively informed about LGBTQ physical and psychological development and\ntheir personal struggles therefrom. \nCumulative adhesion to social networks create a bigger community thus\npushing other members of society to legitimate recognition and acceptance of\none and all.(Ross 2012).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Internet, as a powerful tool of connection and communication,\npermits individuals to be virtually mobile in spite of geographical\nseparation. Time and Physical distance\nhave no impact on relationships since people can communicate easily in spite of\ntime differences in different countries and being physically in another\nplace. Adhesion to social platforms\ncreated by people of the same community help members to feel integrated,\nsupported, gain a sense of belonging and become emotionally strong. Perceptions of different people are greatly\ninfluenced by exchanges on the internet. (Ross 2012).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
THE IDENTITY CONSTRUCTION THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Social media is increasingly influencing the way young people interact in society and\nconstruct their personal identities. With the rise of social networks, the\nyouth are less involved in the face to face interactions and make exaggerated\nuse of technology to communicate whether it be audio or video conversation. In\nthis digital era , young people seem to \nlive in a virtual world and have lost the sense of personal touch and\ncontact. Social media allow people to connect over space and time. However,\nsocial media also allows people to construct an online identity which may be\ndifferent from the real offline-identity.(Lucero 2013). <\/p>\n\n\n\n
STRUTURALISM AND CONTRUCTIVISM <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cullen (2013) states Bourdieu\u2019s approaches social science\nfrom a structuralist or constructivist point of view. Based on structuralism\nindividual behavior is objectively governed by social reality while\nconstructivism refers to human behavior as being determined by social stratification. According to Bourdieu,\nstructuralism does not take into account the personal feelings and reactions of\nhuman beings; individual behavior is just influenced by objective elements like\none\u2019s position in society. Bourdieu\nclaims that the differences in culture, beliefs and values of different social\ngroups create tension and conflicts. Social networks are easily accessible a nd\nsome users within a specific group, like LGBT are prone to make use of this\ntool to express their views or disseminate information which sometimes may\nprove to be irrevelant and thus create more conflict. Such behavior requires\n\u201cgatekeepers\u201d to be called upon to regulate activities, including type and source of information, language used\non social networks. In other words, \u201cgatekeeping\u201d is the process monitoring\ndata and information which are posted online. On certain sites, there is an\nopen flow of information in such a way that no \u201cgatekeeping is involved and\nusers are free to decide whether the given piece of material is relevant and\nreliable. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
ONLINE IDENTITY MANAGEMENT <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The CEO of Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg, stated in 2010 that\npeople who do not identify themselves with their real name cannot be considered\nas honest people. However, in saying this, Zuckerberg overrides the fact that\nsome people are compelled to conceal their true identity for specific\nreasons. For example the same individual\nmay play different roles in terms of parent, worker, political leader, member\nof sports club, follower of religious\nmovement and thus be present on different social platforms in relation to his\npredefined roles. This phenomenon of online identity expression called \u201ccontext\ncollapse\u201d was introduced by Boyd (2018). This shows how people strategically\nselects what information they divulge and what they retain online depending on\nthe social group and audience at which they aim. \u201cContext Collusions\u201d is a\nconcept where different social groups with the same personality and common\nquality join together on the same network. On the hand, \u201cContext Collusions\u201d\nrefer to people with different personalities to be regrouped on the same\nplatform.(Boyd 2018)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
IDENTITY DISCLOSURE FOR LGBTQ YOUNG PEOPLE<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In other spheres of life, various LGBTQ adolescents try to\nreveal their personalities in multiple ways which impact on their\nwell-being. From one perspective, revealing his identity may help the LGBTQ\nyoung person to feel authentic to himself and to others and also act in a way\nwhich enables him to feel relieved from any social pressure. In so doing the\nLGBTQ youth may openly request and gain access to published sources of help and support. As a\nresult, this will lead to a greater sense of well-being for the individual\nconcerned. On the other hand, hidden identity causes stress and turmoil leading\nto personal negative feelings and sense diminished self-esteem. (Ross 2012).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ybarra (2016) studies show that there is a direct\nrelationship between identity revelation among \nLGBTQ youth and a sense of well-being. When LGBTQ identity is revealed\nthe person displays a more positive \npsychological state of health while someone who conceals his sexual\norientation is more prone to psychological stress and depression. However some researches have also revealed\nthat in certain cases revealing their LGBTQ tendency have laid some youth to be\nostracized and victimize at school or on their places of work. In society,\npeople are expected to act and react in a certain way depending contextual situations.The social or economic\ncontext in which sexual orientation is revealed or concealed plays a great role\nin the individual\u2019s development. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Depending on the social life in which they evolved, the LGBTQ\nyoung people deal with their identity in different ways. For example, if their\nparents at home and friends at school are supportive, they will be less fearful\nto reveal their identity. Idem with their co-workers and club partners if they\nshow understanding. On the contrary, if they do not receive encouragement from\ntheir close kins and peers, they are less likely to disclose their tendency.\nResearchers have found that psychological well-being of LGBTQ people are\ngreatly influenced by the level of supportiveness and acceptance of those\nsurrounding them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
LGBTQ IDENTITIES ONLINE<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Difficulties arise in managing identity disclosure on social\nnetworks mainly because of the low guarantee of \nprivacy settings. Personal information like photographs, profiles,\nactivities and contacts are sometimes divulged by friends of friends intentionally\nor unintentionally. In spite of account controls, many pieces of information\ncannot be restricted to only one person or only a group of persons, thus can be\ndisseminated throughout the whole network, many a times to the detriment of the\noriginal user. This may create personal problems, family diputes, social\nconflicts and upheavals. (Dishman 1997).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Management of social networks is effected strategically by\nmany LGBTQ youth. They may create different and distinctive accounts in which\nthey disclose different statuses and identities, not necessarily untrue. For example, a Christian young person may\nopen an account with his religious profile without mentioning that his\nbelonging to the LGBT community and another one with his sexual orientation.\nThe use of different spaces on social platforms may help to avoid potential\nconflicts.(Ciszek 2017). <\/p>\n\n\n\n
CONCLUSION <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Online technology is a complex subject whereby the advantages\nand drawbacks are widely discussed. Concerning social networks, they offer a\nmultiplicity of possibilities to express individual feelings, reveal different\nidentities and provide numerous platforms for open discussions. LGBTQ youth in\nparticular, may choose to disclose or conceal their identities depending on how\nthey manage and control the network settings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
REFERENCES<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Alex Wagaman, M. (2016). Promoting\nempowerment among LGBTQ youth: A social justice youth development approach. Child\n& Adolescent Social Work Journal, 33<\/em>(5), 395-405. doi:http:\/\/dx.doi.org.dbgw.lis.curtin.edu.au\/10.1007\/s10560-016-0435-7<\/p>\n\n\n\n Boyd,. D(2018). \u201cEverybody puts their whole\nlife on facebook\u201d: Identity management and the online social networks of LGBTQ\nyouth. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public\nHealth, 15<\/em>(6), 1078.\ndoi:http:\/\/dx.doi.org.dbgw.lis.curtin.edu.au\/10.3390\/ijerph15061078<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ciszek, E. L., PhD. (2017). Advocacy\ncommunication and social identity: An exploration of social media outreach. Journal\nof Homosexuality, 64<\/em>(14), 1993-2010. doi:http:\/\/dx.doi.org.dbgw.lis.curtin.edu.au\/10.1080\/00918369.2017.1293402<\/p>\n\n\n\n Cullen, A. L. L. (2014). Positive\nspaces: An ethnographic assessment of the influence of the internet on LGBT\nidentity <\/em>(Order No. 1564634). Available from ProQuest Dissertations\n& Theses Global. (1615400595). Retrieved from https:\/\/search-proquest-com.dbgw.lis.curtin.edu.au\/docview\/1615400595?accountid=10382<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Dishman, J. D. (1997). Digital\ndissidents: The formation of gay communities on the internet <\/em>(Order\nNo. EP58834). Available from ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global.\n(1630099491). Retrieved from https:\/\/search-proquest-com.dbgw.lis.curtin.edu.au\/docview\/1630099491?accountid=10382<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Lucero, A. L. (2013). An exploration\nof social media use among multiply minoritized LGBTQ youth <\/em>(Order No.\n3565919). Available from ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global.\n(1415872382). Retrieved from https:\/\/search-proquest-com.dbgw.lis.curtin.edu.au\/docview\/1415872382?accountid=10382<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Niman, K.\n(2017). Online social networking: The changing self, impression\nmanagement and social control <\/em>(Order No. 10602942). Available from\nProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global. (1970460310). Retrieved from https:\/\/search-proquest-com.dbgw.lis.curtin.edu.au\/docview\/1970460310?accountid=10382<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Ross, A. (2012). Lesbian and gay\nmale identity development and online communities <\/em>(Order No. MR84365).\nAvailable from ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global. (1081743064).\nRetrieved from https:\/\/search-proquest-com.dbgw.lis.curtin.edu.au\/docview\/1081743064?accountid=10382<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Ybarra, M. L., & Mitchell, K. J. (2016).\nA national study of lesbian, gay, bisexual (LGB), and non-LGB youth sexual\nbehavior online and in-person. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 45<\/em>(6),\n1357-1372.\ndoi:http:\/\/dx.doi.org.dbgw.lis.curtin.edu.au\/10.1007\/s10508-015-0491-7<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" ABSTRACT Global communication which was, long ago difficult or even impossible, has now been made easy and possible with the advent of the internet. The impact of the internet on LGBT life is significant on the sense that LGBT youth do not have to be physically mobile in order to meet others in the same… Continue reading THE IMPORTANCE OF ONLINE TECHNOLOGY ACTING AS SOCIAL FACILITATOR FOR THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":68,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[25,17,40,22,42],"class_list":["post-551","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-identity","tag-communities","tag-identity","tag-online","tag-online-identity","tag-social-networks"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/networkconference.netstudies.org\/2019Curtin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/551","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/networkconference.netstudies.org\/2019Curtin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/networkconference.netstudies.org\/2019Curtin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/networkconference.netstudies.org\/2019Curtin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/68"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/networkconference.netstudies.org\/2019Curtin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=551"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/networkconference.netstudies.org\/2019Curtin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/551\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":554,"href":"https:\/\/networkconference.netstudies.org\/2019Curtin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/551\/revisions\/554"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/networkconference.netstudies.org\/2019Curtin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=551"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/networkconference.netstudies.org\/2019Curtin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=551"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/networkconference.netstudies.org\/2019Curtin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=551"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}