Queer Joy on Social Media: Exploring the Expression and Facilitation of Queer Joy in Online Platforms

Research Background and Issues

• Issues and Challenges: Historically, research in HCI (Human-Computer Interaction) involving LGBTQ+ communities has often focused on marginalization and the negative impacts on individuals. While online platforms are considered to enhance LGBTQ+ users' identity expression and foster community support, studies have predominantly discussed how they cope with discrimination, threats to big data privacy, and harm caused by specific technologies, rather than exploring positive experiences or joy (e.g., "Queer Joy") within these communities.
• Significance: Using "Queer Joy" as a research perspective can not only shift the stereotypical focus on LGBTQ+ communities as victims but also reveal more about the positive aspects of their social lives and online interactions. This focus can serve as a foundation for designing more socially inclusive platforms and solutions.
• Research Motivation and Related Work:
  • HCI research has shown interest in how technology can reduce the marginalization of LGBTQ+ communities, but studies on how to promote positive experiences (e.g., joy, community empowerment) within these communities are extremely scarce.
  • Previous research indicates that online platforms can enhance LGBTQ+ identity visibility and support networks, but these spaces are sometimes compromised by algorithmic bias, privacy limitations, and exclusionary behaviors among users.
  • This study aims to expand HCI's understanding of LGBTQ+ communities from the positive perspective of "joy."

Solution

• Proposed Approach and Research Questions: The study investigates 100 participants residing in the UK who identify as LGBTQ+, aiming to address the following key questions:

  1. How is "Queer Joy" defined, and what does it look like in online spaces?
  2. How do LGBTQ+ users engage with content related to "Queer Joy" on social media?
  3. Which social media platforms are more effective in fostering "Queer Joy"?
  4. How do LGBTQ+ users protect their privacy on social media platforms?

• Research Steps:

  • Conducting an online survey using mixed methods to collect both quantitative and qualitative data, including open-ended and closed-ended questions on the definition and expression of "Queer Joy," privacy protection measures, and social media interactions.
  • Analyzing the survey responses to understand LGBTQ+ users' perceptions and behaviors regarding self-expression, community engagement, privacy management, and platform preferences.
  • Applying Braun and Clarke's six-step framework to perform thematic analysis on participants' open-ended responses.

• Key Techniques: Utilizing qualitative analysis (thematic categorization) and data processing techniques such as platform ranking to gain a deeper understanding of the definition and expression of "Queer Joy." Additionally, employing quantitative tools to assess the prevalence of privacy protection practices.

Research Findings

• Specific Findings:

  • The widely recognized definition of "Queer Joy" revolves around several core themes: self-expression and authenticity, a sense of community belonging, acceptance and safety, and celebrating small moments of happiness in daily life.
  • Users commonly associate "Queer Joy" with identity expression and community support, but most LGBTQ+ users prefer sharing related content within familiar groups (e.g., other LGBTQ+ users) rather than with broader audiences.
  • Most users adopt privacy protection measures on social media, such as audience segmentation, blocking specific users, and avoiding certain platforms.

• Comparison with Existing Solutions and Advantages:

  • This study contrasts sharply with previous HCI research that overly focused on describing LGBTQ+ communities' marginalization, offering an innovative perspective on their positive experiences.
  • It supports LGBTQ+ users in expressing and celebrating their identities, rather than solely protecting them from the impacts of marginalization, providing directions for advancing inclusive design.

• Experimental Results and Platform Comparison:

  • Social media platforms vary significantly in their ability to foster "Queer Joy." Video-based platforms (e.g., TikTok and YouTube) are perceived as more conducive to expressing "Queer Joy," while X (formerly Twitter) is considered less favorable due to its CEO and user environment's lack of support.
  • Regarding privacy management, participants expressed the need for more granular features to control content audiences and visibility.

• Limitations and Future Directions:

  • The participant sample is limited to LGBTQ+ individuals residing in the UK and Ireland, which may not reflect social and cultural differences in regions such as Asia and Africa.
  • The study primarily relies on self-reporting methods, lacking practical community modeling or visual interaction experiments.
  • Future research could focus on users with intersectional identities (e.g., race and LGBTQ+ identity) and explore the potential of enhancing visual representation tools (e.g., video-centric expression platforms) in promoting "Queer Joy."

Conclusion

This study broadens the scope of research on LGBTQ+ communities, highlighting joy as a potential force for identity expression and community connection. By conceptualizing and supporting "Queer Joy," the research provides valuable insights for HCI and offers groundbreaking suggestions for social media design and platform policies. It also emphasizes the importance of privacy protection and platform selection in promoting the well-being of LGBTQ+ users.