MySpace

MySpace was one of the first mass popular social media networks. Founded in 2003, it allowed people to express themselves through interests and create their own online identity. This was the start of people being able to express their identity through online spaces with community on a much larger scale than they had ever been able to before.

To begin with, in the early years of social media, this resulted in reinforcement of traditional gender identities and expectations, only to a heightened level, as it was far more on display on these newly emerging sites.

"Social networking sites provide valuable opportunities for emerging adults to realize possible selves; however, increased pressure for female sexual objectification and intensified social comparison may also negatively impact identity development." (Manago et al., 2008)

Facebook

Facebook continued with this profile based social network. Again people were encouraged to share as much about themselves on their profile as possible. Things such as relationship status, and other personal information were key features in the growth of the platform.

Facebook built on what the like of MySpace had started and offered a space where individuals could control their indentity in a way they may not have been able to as much in the real world (Khoshsabk & Southcott, 2019). However, like at MySpace in the early 2000s, this didn't liberate people to express their identity, but rather to conform to societies stereotypes on Gender.

Twitter (now X)

Twitter took this idea of personal expression one step further. Now rather than sharing specific parts of your personal life. Twitter encouraged people to share everything that they were thinking.

Twitter was, and is still too this day a far more toxic environment than the other sites mentioned, not to say that toxicity doesn’t exist on on the other sites, because it does. This meant that Twitter, a space created to express one’s thoughts, often became a space where those expressing their feelings about their gender identity received some form of negative response. This followed the theme of the early days of social media, where it was a reflection of the society that surrounded it, and the focus was on outdated Gender stereotypes.

Even now as Twitter has grown "there is a greater presence of strategies and dynamics of polarized discourse and segregation, perhaps as a result of the use of algorithms" and this could "generate a greater degree of polarization in areas that necessarily require integrating and inclusive perspectives, as is the case of issues connected with gender" (Peña-Fernández et al., 2023)

Despite the somewhat negative start in the relationship between Gender Identity and these newly emerging Social Media sites, it had created a space for these conversations to happen on a mass scale.

In some cases this has meant progression, in other cases it has meant people display their identity online in a way which is different to the real world. Whichever way you look at it, the impact these early social media sites had on the way people expressed their gender identity can't be ignored.

For LGBTQ+ creators looking to interact with like-minded individuals and express themselves, then TikTok is the perfect place. The creative video environment developed by TikTok allows users to explore gender identity in various ways. Its algorithm or ‘for you’ page promotes content to a wider audience thus enabling gender-related topics to reach fresh users who become part of an informed community. This assists in contributing to greater visibility and understanding for everyone. It also helps those who may still be exploring LGBTQ+  to connect with other users in a safe environment. TikTok was originally known as Musical.ly with its launch in 2017 leading to a rise of short-form content. It has since grown to become one of the biggest social media platforms.

Latest reports highlight that 5 billion people use social media on a regular basis. Popular platforms include Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok. These forms of social media have shown to be successful in enabling activism and advocacy around gender identity, with users feeling more open to discussing how they feel on LBGBTQ+ when compared to previous years. By celebrating diverse gender identities these platforms are now providing a leading means of celebrating diversity within our society.

The instance and accessible information flow provided by social media has also made it possible for a wider audience to express themselves. Creators may feel more comfortable sharing how they feel about their gender over social media as they do not have the ‘face to face’ pressure as experienced in physical meetings with other people. In addition, it is also easier to meet like minded people by joining pages or following hashtags.

Although social media platforms have played a significant role in furthering discussions about gender identity, there are still several challenges that need to be explored. As an example, due to their easy access, the platforms can be used as places for discriminatory viewpoints. Online users can experience targeted hate speeches or harassment for expressing their LGBTQ+ gender. However, overall these platforms have been crucial in the ongoing conversation around gender identity and inclusivity because of their ability to provide a voice to underrepresented groups and promote a feeling of community for those who may feel lost or confused.