GLAAD, the world’s largest LGBTQ+ media advocacy organization, made a significant announcement on Thursday. According to their third annual Social Media Safety Index, all five major social media platforms – Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and Twitter – have received low or failing scores for LGBTQ+ safety for the second year in a row. Out of the five platforms, Twitter received the lowest grade in its ability to protect LGBTQ+ users.
In a tweet, GLAAD expressed their disappointment with the platforms, stating that they continue to fail at safeguarding LGBTQ+ users from online hate speech, lack transparency in the use of LGBTQ-specific user data, and do not express commitments to protecting LGBTQ+ users.
The report specifically highlights the struggles faced by transgender, non-binary, and gender non-conforming users, who are subject to hate speech and harassment on social media.
GLAAD’s SMSI Platform Scorecard evaluates LGBTQ+ safety, privacy, and expression on the five major platforms based on 12 LGBTQ-specific indicators. These indicators include features like the ability to add pronouns to user bios, disclosure of content recommendation algorithms based on gender identity or sexual orientation, and internal corporate structures for protecting LGBTQ+ users.
This year, Twitter received a score of only 33%, down 12 points since Elon Musk took over the platform in 2022. In contrast, Instagram scored 63%, Facebook 61%, TikTok 57%, and YouTube 54% on the 2023 report. However, all platforms were found to have issues with inadequate content moderation, harmful algorithms, and a lack of transparency and accountability, which disproportionately affects LGBTQ+ users and other marginalized communities vulnerable to hate, harassment, and discrimination.
GLAAD President and CEO Sarah-Kate Ellis emphasized how dehumanizing anti-LGBTQ+ content on social media leads to real-world violence and harmful legislation. The report’s key findings reveal that anti-LGBTQ+ online rhetoric has a direct impact on offline life and is a significant public health and safety issue. The platforms also disproportionately suppress LGBTQ+-centered content through demonetization and content removal.
The SMSI provides key recommendations for each platform to improve LGBTQ+ user safety. A combined report by Media Matters and GLAAD highlighted that attacks on LGBTQ+ users on Twitter have increased substantially since Musk took control of the platform. The report found a 1200% increase in retweets of anti-LGBTQ+ accounts containing “groomer” rhetoric. Furthermore, Twitter faced criticism for removing a policy against misgendering and deadnaming transgender individuals.
CBS News reached out to Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, who stated their commitment to creating a safe online environment and the importance of input from LGBTQ+ safety organizations. TikTok expressed their dedication to strengthening their approach with the help of users and experts like GLAAD. YouTube also reaffirmed their commitment to prohibit content promoting violence or hatred against the LGBTQ+ community.
As for Twitter, their press email auto-replied with a poop emoji as a joking gesture since Musk let go of the members of Twitter’s public relations team.
