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

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One response to “How social media affordances enable LGBTQIA+ individuals to construct safe and supportive communities for self-expression, particularly when offline environments are unsafe or inaccessible by Ella Moss”

1. 

   Sian Forbes

   07/05/2026

   You showed how emotional disclosure on Reddit, like coming out stories – generates engagement, support, and validation. However Reddit’s algorithm also tends to prioritiseposts with higher emotional intensity or vulnerability because they drive more comments and upvotes. That means the most distressed, raw, or uncertain posts become more visible, while quieter, more resolved posts get buried. My concern is, doesn’t that incentivise users to perform or amplify their vulnerability to stay visible? And could that accidentally reward suffering over stability?

   You showed how shared vulnerability creates community on Reddit, and I agree that’s powerful. But communities also need boundaries to stay safe. On Reddit, anyone – including anti‑trans lurkers, journalists, or bad actors – can read the most intimate moments of someone’s coming out. When does participatory interaction become participatory surveillance? And how do we reconcile the healing power of public disclosure with the real risks of permanent, public vulnerability?

   The posts you showed were beautifully supportive. But for every upvoted, hug‑filled thread, there are deleted ones from people who got harassed. Does Reddit’s design protect the most vulnerable users, or does it just amplify vulnerability without enough safety?

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