Social media companies are facing criticism for their failure to ensure the safety of LGBTQ users on their platforms. GLAAD, an LGBTQ media watchdog, recently released a report that assessed the LGBTQ user safety on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and Twitter. Unfortunately, all five platforms received low or failing scores in the annual assessment.
GLAAD’s Social Media Safety Index evaluated each platform based on LGBTQ safety, privacy, and expression using 12 LGBTQ-specific indicators. These indicators include protecting LGBTQ users from hate and harassment, providing gender pronoun options on profiles, and prohibiting discriminatory advertising. The report found that Twitter had the lowest grade of 33%, and it was the only platform to see a decline in its safety score from the previous year. This decline was attributed to policy changes made under CEO Elon Musk, who took control of the company in October.
Musk’s changes included reducing the content moderation team responsible for tracking abuse on Twitter, and the removal of a 2018 policy against misgendering and deadnaming transgender individuals. In a tweet during Pride Month, Musk stated that misgendering people on Twitter is “definitely allowed.”
However, the other four social media platforms assessed by GLAAD showed improvement in their scores compared to the previous year. YouTube received 54%, TikTok received 57%, Facebook received 61%, and Instagram received the highest score of 63%.
Despite these improvements, the GLAAD report emphasizes that there is still room for social media companies to do more to protect the LGBTQ community from hate and harassment. The report calls for stronger policies and a focus on promoting civil discourse.
GLAAD President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis highlighted the urgency of the issue, stating that the LGBTQ community is facing attacks on their rights and physical safety. She noted that dangerous rhetoric often originates from major social media platforms, and these companies must enforce their own policies against hate speech and harassment.
GLAAD reached out to the companies mentioned in the report for comment. A TikTok spokesperson highlighted the platform’s efforts to create a safe and supportive environment for the LGBTQ+ community.
GLAAD also acknowledged that while all platforms assessed have policies against hate speech based on sexual orientation and gender identity, the enforcement of these policies is difficult to measure. GLAAD’s senior director of social media safety, Jenni Olsen, explained that they don’t rate platforms on enforcement because they lack transparency into their actions.
Olsen further mentioned that GLAAD frequently encounters failures in the enforcement of community guidelines across all platforms. Reports of hateful or dangerous content often go unanswered.
GLAAD and LGBTQ advocates warn that if left unchecked, online hate speech and misinformation can lead to real-world violence against the LGBTQ community. They emphasize the importance of addressing these issues to ensure the safety and well-being of LGBTQ individuals.
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