‘Block, report, or move on” — What the experience of LGBTQIA+ college students tells us about online safety measures

• In Event: Lightning Talk: Harnessing Education Strategies to Safeguard Youth from Cybercrime & Online Victimization in New & Emerging Technologies

Abstract

While all users of the internet are vulnerable to cybervictimization, research consistently shows that young LGBTQIA+ people are particularly likely to experience disproportionate abuse and harassment in online spaces. Despite this heightened risk, little research has been done to explore the lived experience of these communities, and gather evidence about their levels of education and awareness about various ways to stay safe online. Based on focus group research conducted at a mid-sized university in the United States northeast, this presentation demonstrates that college aged LGBTQIA+ people are highly aware of, and educated on, the safety features of various online platforms. However, while they know these functions exist, what the research also reveals is a nuanced belief that these systems do not provide adequate support, are designed to fail, or to provide a placebo effect wherein users feel safe without any real action being taken. This demonstrates that, for the LGBTQIA+ communities, education and awareness may not be the problem, but rather the effectiveness of safety provisions on a platform-level.

Authors

• Paul Bleakley, University of New Haven

• Megan M. Trafford, University of New Haven