blog post #9 - 11/13
How has the creation of queer dating apps created a safer experience for LGBTQ+ community?
Queer dating apps have created an open and transparent dating field for LGBTQ+ people to thrive in. I know from my personal experience that it can be kind of hard to date when your gender identity isn’t in alignment with the rest of society, and being in a straight dating setting isn’t often ann understanding experience. Oftentimes, being queer/trans can come with a lot of isolation, and social media like dating apps provide a platform where queer people are able to let go of fears and date freely. Being trans, I often feel like my identity is something I have to disclose, especially when dating. However, being given exclusively queer spaces to date has removed the need to be worried or scared about any misunderstanding or potential conflict. LGBTQ+ dating apps are a safe space for individuals looking to feel more accepted within their own community, and can find people of similar interests and desires. They allow for people to date where they feel most comfortable in regards to their identity because it is a cultivation of others looking for the same safety.
How has the creation of queer dating apps fostered an UNSAFE environment for LGBTQ+ communities?
Because queer dating apps are LGBTQ+ exclusive, it can be a hotspot for a lot of hate and sexualization. Grindr has become increasingly known for being a hookup app, and since it is geared towards gay people, the sort of environment fostered here can be kind of predatory in a way. Let me explain. Given the nature of a queer dating app, our identities are constantly put on display and is highlighted for others to see. Something very common these days, especially on these dating apps, is trans chasers. Trans chasers often seek individuals based on the sole fact that they are transgender, and often sexualize and objectify their body parts and physical aspects instead of developing a more human connection. This is especially true with trans women, who often enter the dating scene on apps like this and are left with distasteful experiences due to this fetishization. Oftentimes, trans people encounter what is called “DL” men, or “down low” men who are quick to engage in sexual activity with trans/gay people, but outwardly hateful or disapproving of the LGBTQ+ in public. This leads to purely sexual interactions where many people might be looking for much more, and some may find it hard to break out of this unwanted dynamic. Outside of this fetishization though, men on these apps can be physically dangerous, and may play as a certain identity to lure queer people in. I have read far too many cases of trans women being killed upon meeting their Grindr date, and most of which are assumed to be hate crimes. Last year in Pennsylvania, a 14 year old trans girl was found dismembered after being missing for a few days. Upon further investigation, police learned that the murderer was actually a Grindr date she had met up with (see article at end). Unfortunately, I would be wrong to say that this was the only occasion, and I dread to say that this has happened multiple times in the past for people to recognize these dangers. I see trans women constantly telling each other to be safe and to stay protected, whether that be armed or not. It is very similar to how cisgender women experience men in the dating realm, and the hate that fuels transphobia can also be fueled by sexism. In another case, a man from Houston, Texas shot a woman after finding out she was transgender, leaving her paralyzed from the waist down (see article). There is a lot of dangerous behavior that can happen due to the hate people can hold in their hearts, and queer people are often targets of these hate crimes.
How does social media accommodate to its disabled users and create a safe space for them?
I myself am not a disabled person, but I decided to think outside of my own hardships and explore those of other marginalized groups. I bring this up to say that most points I reference are going to come from the article “Social Media as a Tool for Disabled People” by Rebecca from the Everyone Can organization. I will also link this article at the end of the post.
Online social interaction by able-bodied people is often frowned upon and not considered “real” forms of socialization. Especially after we experienced a whole pandemic where we had to be online, many people continue to hold this idea that communication is most valuable when it is spoken or verbal. However, this excludes those with disabilities, like those who are mute/nonverbal or have difficulties with speech, who primarily use writing, text, or hand signing. Social media can actually create a lot of accessibility for disabled communities, and not only for those related to speech. Blind and deaf individuals can also run into difficulties interacting with people in real life, and social media makes a more accessible and accommodating platform for disabled communities to communicate on. There are even technological aspects that have been implemented into phones and apps that help convert speech to text or vice versa, which paves paths for those who have trouble communicating in general. Social media provides a digital platform where forms of communication are equal regardless of disability, and puts everyone on the same playing field. Unless it is explicitly stated, disability isn’t a factor that is considered when talking to these people whereas in real life, people may underestimate or assume that disabled individuals can’t communicate in the same way. Even if their disability is stated online, it creates visibility and allows for disabled people to connect with each other. Rebecca, the author of this article, expresses that it is actually pretty uncommon to meet other people with the same disability, so social media and its connective nature is a perfect way for people to reach others with the same struggles. Social media is also a good way to stay connected for those that have mobility issues or can’t leave the house as much for whatever reasons, and gives people the chance to stay in touch through text, video, phone calls, video calls, voice messages, and so much more. Social media can also serve as a tool for these communities to raise awareness and education around disability, and can minimize the stigma or misconceptions around their lives.
How has social media contributed to creating a safer, more accepting world in real life for marginalized groups?
Honestly, the intermixing of a lot of different cultures through social media has paved the way for a more accepting and diverse reality. In terms of music, social media gives everyone a platform to share where they come from, and everyone can enjoy it. For example, Bad Bunny. He is a Puerto Rican artist, and his rap/reggaeton has become so mainstream that he is going to perform at the Superbowl. Additionally, both male and female K-Pop groups have become poplar throughout the world, especially here in the US. I grew up knowing a lot of girls who would fawn over these Korean idols and they would send me edits or posts on social media about them. In terms of language, we have become very integrated too. Gay lingo and AAVE make up the majority of what we speak and throw around online, and what we say online often materializes in our real vocabulary. The ability for people to blend and indulge in different cultures and ideas can push ideas of acceptance and paints marginalized groups as human and individuals that can be related to, not othered. Outside of individual, specific cultures, there exists a universal code on social media and the Internet. It is a shared experience of simply being online, and even those with very dissimilar traits would be able to bond over a certain meme or online joke. Social media provides exposure for those who are narrow-minded, and helps them break free from fixed perceptions and stereotypes. Lastly, the sharing of different foods has created more acceptance in real life, and more tolerance. I see various culture promoting their desserts, foods, and drinks on social media, oftentimes becoming viral. Mexico, the Middle East, Africa, and India all have foods that have gone viral over the past few months, and it has spread so largely due to social media. The Dubai Chocolate bar, butter chicken, fufu and egusi soup, and birria tacos have actually become trends online and people want to interact with foods from cultures outside of their own. The interconnectedness social media brings can bridge us together as people and it can be crucial to the way people treat each other in real life.
Works Cited:
A 29-year-old man was charged with four felony charges in connection to 14-year-old girl’s death
He allegedly shot her in the chest when he found out she was a transgender woman, and court documents say her legs were left paralyzed.
Social media gets a lot of attention, but something that’s not often discussed, is how when used appropriately, it can […]












