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

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One response to “LGBT: How Online Influence Rebels Against Social Injustice-KOK KAH LEONG”

1. 

   22978532

   01/05/2026

   Heya Kok Kah Leong,

   Found your presentation of Bretman Rock to be informative and distinctly touches on how their fanbase is shaped through the social media platform of your choosing, which was Instagram. Additionally, noticed you included some research based on the creative affordances of their manner of posting to fans. Social injustice was pointed out at the end as well, which I appreciated the background check on that. :]

   Here are my prepared questions for your paper!

   1) You mentioned at 3:55 that Bretman was an openly gay man to his fan base’s knowledge, therefore creating this cycle of representation (feedback loop=bringing motivation to the fandom to be seen as “accepting” as himself & gain self-confidence) to his watchful fans on his social media pages. Do you believe his identity as being socially open about his sexuality contributed to his success? Would his messages still have a similar “positive” impact for his fans IF he wasn’t, as mentioned in Magazine (2023), represented as “openly out in public”?

   2) You mentioned that minority groups like LGBTQ+ communities are vulnerable due to weak social affordances in physical spaces. However, digital platforms still offer some of these affordances. In countries where LGBTQ+ expression is heavily restricted—such as Malaysia—how can creators safely support their communities and speak out, especially under government surveillance? What specific features or affordances of social media can still empower these communities in such constrained environments?

   3) Seeing that appearances seem to be a major hot topic especially within the community, there’s a nuanced attention put forward within the practices of these things—like within social and cultural implications that the affordances of the platform (Instagram) might have as well. Would you say that Bretman’s way of aiding others through fashion content be a form of “empowerment” to separate individuals or a traditional vision of how one should convey themselves in a “conventionally attractive” public self-representation?

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