Unveiling the Pride in Social Media: A Review of LGBTQIA+ Use of Online Social Networks

Social media platforms have become online spaces that afford the LGBTQIA+ community to participate in social interactions with freedom due to their convenience, connectivity, and anonymity. This systematic review attempts to identify who is using, their reasons for usage, what concerns they encounter, and, importantly, the technological features they utilize. Of the 1388 identified, 41 publications were included in the review. Results show that studies are becoming more inclusive in their terminology but are still focusing on the young-to-young adult age bracket. The primary reasons for social media usage are seeking information, exchanging support, and finding connections. The common concerns discussed in the studies are the adverse incidents the LGBTQIA+ encounter, the chances of disclosure, and the overall well-being of the persons. Lastly, on the technological features, LGBTQIA+ social media users can create and join online communities, they can access different accounts and platforms, be conscious of regulations and policies of the platforms, manage their online accounts to their needs and liking, create filters, and curate their connection, and lastly, engage in multimedia sharing. Finally, this review aims to provide recommendations for future research directions.