The Social Media Usage of Transgender Adolescents

This project seeks to identify the benefits and detriments of social media usage by Transgender/Gender-Diverse (TGD) adolescents. By utilizing research surveys and other collections of data with a focus on experiences of TGD adolescents, the social support systems of many of these adolescents can be better understood and improved. In short, this project seeks to answer: How does social networking affect adolescent trans & gender diverse individuals?

Lena Herrmann, Carola Bindt, Sarah Hohmann & Inga Becker-Hebly (2023, September 04) Social media use and experiences among transgender and gender diverse adolescents, International Journal of Transgender Health, Retrieved on Mar 26, 2024 from https://doi-org.libproxy.unm.edu/10.1080/26895269.2023.2252410

In “Social media use and experiences among transgender and gender diverse adolescents,” published by the International Journal of Transgender Health in 2023, Herrmann et al. examine the usage of social media in TGD adolescents within the context of a German clinic specializing in gender identity services with a questionnaire-based study. In the study, it was found that while many of TGD adolescents shared similar time spend online in comparison to the general population of German adolescents, it was found that TGD adolescents utilized social media in different ways. Particularly, TGD adolescents used social media to explore their gender identity, learn about gender affirming treatments, and find communities of supportive peers—usages that were not found in the greater population of cisgender adolescents. Additionally, the study also found that TGD adolescents were also susceptible to harmful experiences online, such as cyberbullying.

This source helps answer my research question as it demonstrates both benefits and concerns regarding social media usage among TGD adolescents. I intend to utilize this source to describe specific, measured usages of social media as it provides data measured in a cross-sectional study.

“... TGD youth often used the internet and social media for accessing TGD-specific information, gender identity expression, and exploration and had unique positive and negative experiences online” (Herrmann et al., 2023).

Victoria Adkins, Ellie Masters, Daniel Shumer, Ellen Selkie (2018, January 17) Exploring Transgender Adolescents' Use of Social Media for Support and Health Information Seeking, Journal of Adolescent Health, Retrieved on Mar 26, 2024 from https://doi- org.libproxy.unm.edu/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2017.11.087

Adkins et al. study interviews conducted with American transgender adolescents, recruited from a pediatric gender clinic, on their social media usage. The researchers were able to find that whilst most of what these youths are accessing online is of a positive and supportive nature, hostile and anti-trans sentiment is difficult to avoid for many of them. The goal of this study was to better understand what systems can be built to best support TGD adolescents in a mental health care lens, and learning how to mitigate risks to wellbeing.

I find this to be a great article as provided quotes from interviews showcase both the best and worst aspects of online spaces for TGD youths. I plan to take these quotes to underline the benefits of having access to spaces where one can find support and guidance for navigating gender dysphoria.

“Overall, most participants reported using social media to access transgender-related communities and content” (Adkins et al., 2018).

“...logging transition (“Seeing other people's progress [...] makes me like look forward for what's to come)” (Adkins et al., 2018).

Ellen Selkie M.D., M.P.H., Victoria Adkins M.S.W., Ellie Masters, Anita Bajpai M.D. and Daniel Shumer M.D (2020, March 01) Transgender Adolescents' Uses of Social Media for Social Support, Journal of Adolescent Health, Retrieved on Mar 26, 2024 from https://www-clinicalkey-com.libproxy.unm.edu/ - !/content/playContent/1-s2.0- S1054139X19304215

In this article, Selkie et al. utilize interviews with American TGD youths to gain a better understanding of social media usage among TGD adolescents. Many youths don’t feel comfortable expressing gender non-conformity offline, and seek online communities to find support. Participants shared concerns of offline alienation that were validated and shared by many of their online peers.

I intend to utilize this article to further expand upon the hope instilled into TGD youths that is found through communities online. Many adolescents find difficulty seeking support offline, and turn to likeminded peers that are often only found online.

“One participant described that before beginning testosterone, “I was in a really deep depression and I found all these people who were post-op and post-T, um I, I was like, that's a future that I could have if I stick around a little bit longer and get to see that happen for me too.” For youth undergoing medical treatment, seeing others' experiences online was a way of coping with frustrations they may have during their own transition” (Selkie et al., 2020).

Shah, T. N., Parodi, K. B., Holt, M. K., Green, J. G., Katz-Wise, S. L., Kraus, A. D., Kim, G. S., & Ji, Y. (2022, September 08). A Qualitative Exploration of How Transgender and Non- binary Adolescents Define and Identify Supports. Journal of Adolescent Research, Retrieved on Mar 26, 2024 from https://doi.org/10.1177/07435584221123123

In this study, Shah et al. explore many different support systems that TGD youths have in their lives, and seek to better understand how these systems could be improved for their wellbeings. Collecting data with online surveys, key support figures were identified as well as areas in which TGD youths expressed needs for safer spaces in their lives, such as school and home environments. For many youths, the bulk of their supports are found either in the family, or at school, with few having external, offline communities.

I intend to utilize the findings of this article to explore the differences between online and offline support systems. By examining the differences, the strengths and weaknesses of social networking can be further understood in the context of support for TGD youth.

“As for family, I just want them to be there for me on my bad days and when I need it. I just want a shoulder at home to lean on and not feel so isolated” (16-year-old, trans female...” (Shah et al., 2022).

“...reducing stigma would function as a preventative measure through the creation of more welcoming communities in which TNB youth had agency over whether to share their gender identities” (Shah et al., 2022).