Think all teens use the internet the same way? Think again.
Teens today are using the internet more than ever as a source for information and connection to others. They are using it to create a world beyond their physical one, providing a social network and support in places where it may be lacking in person. Today, the Gay, Lesbian, & Straight Education Network (GLSEN) releases a report on LGBT teens and the Internet titled, “Out Online: The Experiences of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Youth on the Internet.” Findings show that the internet is a resource for information, a support system, and a source of bullying and harassment for LGBT teens.
LGBT teens are getting health information online to supplement what may be lacking in health classes. For example, more than one out of five, twenty percent, LGBT teens were using the internet to search for HIV and other STI information, while only five percent of non-LGBT teens had used the internet to look up this information. The Internet is also a place where LGBT youth can go to understand their feelings and emerging sexuality: Two out of three, about 66%, LGBT teens had searched for information on sexuality or sexual attraction online, while only twelve percent of non-LGBT had done so. The internet has become an essential resource, filling in gaps in health education and access to useful information that LGBT teens are lacking in-person.
The Internet also acts as an incredible source of social support for LGBT teens, particularly as they are learning about themselves and their sexuality: One in four LGBT teens reported being out more online than offline and for LGBT teens who were not out yet, half had connected with other LGBT teens online. LGBT teens are also more likely to form close friendships online, in fact one out of two LGBT teens in the study had at least one close friend online compared to only one out of four non-LGBT teens. Importantly, one in three LGBT teens rated their online friends as more supportive than their offline friends whereas only fourteen percent of non-LGBT had more supportive friends online than offline. The support system created by the internet thus appears to be key for many LGBT teens.
In addition to the numerous noted benefits, potential online threats also were noted: One out of three LGBT teens reported feeling unsafe online versus only one out of five non-LGBT teens. Offline places are not any safer however: LGBT teens reported feeling equally unsafe at school and traveling to and from school as they did online. Even more concerning, LGBT teens reported being bullied or harassed online three times more often, and via text messaging two times more often than non-LGBT teens were. They also were four times more likely to experience sexual harassment online and three times more likely to experience it via text as compared to non-LGBT teens. The increased rates of victimization have implications for mental health: as rates of harassment and bullying increased, so too did depression. Meanwhile, self-esteem and GPA decreased.
Together, the report findings highlight the complexity that new technology is for young people: The Internet is neither all-perilous nor all-panacea. This is very similar to other environments, such as school, work, and traveling to and from school, that young people must learn to traverse safely. The report also highlights that, compared to non-LGBT teens, LGBT teens face greater risks as well as experience greater benefits via these new technologies. Parents and professionals working with teens need to help young people gain skills that help them harness the power of the Internet and text messaging, while learning harm reduction measures that lower their risk for negative experiences.
Acknowledgements: Thank you to Jennifer Renzas for her contributions to this blog.
This article is based on Gay, Lesbian, & Straight Education Network’s (GLSEN) July 2013 report, “Out Online: The Experiences of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Youth on the Internet.” It can be accessed at www.glsen.org