Following the Unfollowed: Non-Monosexual Identity Navigation through Social Media

• In Event: EXTENDED SESSION: From PR and Persuasion to Amorous Apps and Trans TV: The Latest in LGBTQ Studies

Abstract

“Following the unfollowed” references the social media practice of subscribing to another user’s profile. For non-monosexuals, people whose identities are not defined by attraction to only one gender, this recognition is new territory. The purpose of this study is to discover how people who identify outside of the gay/straight dichotomy use social media to navigate the complicated status of otherness. Using the theoretical lenses of social constructionism and social constructivism, we conducted in-depth interviews with 21 non-monosexual individuals focusing on their experiences with social media as it relates to identity construction, sexual orientation, and socialization. Various themes were uncovered including information seeking and sharing, disenfranchisement from gays and lesbians, and unique experiences across social media platforms.

Authors

• Michele Meyer, University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill

• Dan Brown, Syracuse U

• Juan C Ortiz, Syracuse U