Online Social Support for LGBT Teens

From feeling accepted to having a sense of self-worth, social support is an important aspect of a person's well-being [1]. Thanks to social media technology, many youth can find social support and form beneficial friendships online. This is especially important for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) youth, who can more easily find friends who are understanding online than in person.

Source: Center for Innovative Public Health Research

However, the benefits of online friendships are not without its limits: Negative experiences, such as harassment, can still occur online. In-person friendships continue to be an important factor for reducing the likelihood LGBT youth victimization. To learn more, check out our new infographic, illustrating national data about online experiences: Online Social Support for LGBT Teens.

For more reading, check out our past blog post on the benefits of Online Support for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual Youth.

Learn more about our research at Center for Innovative Public Health Research.

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Acknowledgments: Thank you to Emilie Chen for her contributions to this blog.

References:

[1] Mayo Clinic. "Social support: Tap this tool to beat stress." Available at: http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-living/stress-management/in-depth/soc…