Social Media, Communities, & Networks Conference 2026: Semester 1 & SP1

Comments

One response to “Fleeting moments, lasting belonging: LGBTQ+ Community on TikTok – Sian Forbes. 24125262. ”

1. 

   Ella Moss

   01/05/2026

   Hey Sian! Thank you for your presentation. I really enjoyed hearing your discussion on how TikTok can facilitate LGBTQ+ communities to help geographically isolated users find belonging through there affordances.

   My 3 Questions for you are:

   1. You state that Tik Tok’s comment section can transform a digital moment into lasting belonging, specifically in the case of Isac Humphries where strong emotional responses create feelings of “I’m seen” recognition. So how might we differentiate genuine, sustained belonging that leads to ongoing community formation from a temporary moment of connection within a networked public?

   2. You argued that Isaac Humphries functions as an influential peer by using his visibility for community care rather than fame or profit. To what extent do you think the feelings of belonging and audience response created around his coming out video were shaped by TikTok’s affordances, such as searchability and comment threads, versus Humphries’ pre-existing status as a well-known athlete with established public visibility and community support, and would the impact have been the same if the video had been shared by someone without that status?

   3. For geographically isolated LGBTQ+ users who rely on TikTok for community and support, how might this dependence on the platform complicate their ability to manage risks such as cyberbullying, exploitation or blackmail, particularly when finding connection and belonging relies on the same affordances, like comment threads, that can also amplify hate and harmful content?

   Reply