Navigating Social Media as a Transgender User: Comparing Different Community Standards, Content Moderation, Legal Name Policy and the Dangers of Far Right Wing Anti-Trans Rhetoric.
Author: Juan Ignacio Zumarán
Keywords: Transgender, Social Media, Community Standards, Social Media Policy, Big Tech
Abstract:
Social media platforms play a pivotal role in shaping the experiences and identities of transgender individuals online. My interest in social media policies began after reading the article “Tumblr was a Trans Technology”, which highlighted Tumblr’s unique ability to foster fraternity, openness, and visibility for transgender users, particularly through its allowance of gender-affirming surgery images. However, Tumblr’s trajectory changed significantly after its temporary shutdown and subsequent return with new, restrictive policies. These shifts underscore the importance of critically examining how social media platforms construct and enforce their community guidelines. This seminar paper compares the policies of some major social platforms—Meta, Twitter, TikTok, and Tumblr—to evaluate how they address the needs of transgender community members, especially in adult and gender reassignment surgery content. Drawing from my own lived experience as a transgender person who discovered and explored my identity through social media, I propose a set of recommendations for social media designers aimed at creating safer, more inclusive digital spaces for transgender individuals, but mostly how we can change the actual platforms that exist today.
In addition, this paper critically analyzes the rhetoric propagated by some right-wing scholars and politicians who argue “How Big Tech Turns Kids Trans”. Such claims not only stigmatize transgender individuals but also pose significant risks to the safety and well-being of LGBTQ+ groups online. By combining my personal insight, policy analysis, and a critique of harmful rhetoric, this work aims to illuminate the challenges faced by transgender users while providing actionable solutions and recommendations to social media platforms for fostering inclusive online environments.
Introduction
This paper aims to explore social media and its role in being a safe space for transgender users. Combining my own experience online, social media policies, why far right-wing anti-trans rhetoric is dangerous and provide a set of recommendations based on these aspects; social media policy regarding gender reassignment surgery content, far right-wing rhetoric on ‘big tech turns kids trans’ (Eckert, 2019), analyzing Tumblr as a case study (Haimson, Oliver L., Dame-Griff, Capello, Richter., 2021), and contributing with my knowledge as a trans user on social media. These recommendations aim to express what aspects of current companies could change to improve the trans experience online.
Social media must serve as a haven for minorities who lack exposure to their stories in offline life. There is immense power in information, and had I not been exposed to trans narratives online during my adolescence. This seminar paper seeks to examine the policies social media platforms implement—whether they empower and protect or fall short in fostering a supportive space for transgender users. It will also provide direction for future and current social media developers and companies on how to create more inclusive online environments.
My life online as a trans person has been mostly positive, and the hate speech I have endured online does not compare to physical altercations in real life. I argue that for me, social media was more of a safe space to show my true character, because of the power of community that is created and inherently part of social media. Our world has never been more connected and it keeps getting more technologically enhanced constantly. Social media companies should realize the power that information has to trans users, medical or not, just information about transness and trans people, and not try to only profit from their platforms and content.
I was assigned male gender at birth, but I now identify as a transgender woman. For me, there is no history of transgender individuals on either side of my family. I was born and raised in the suburbs of Montevideo, Uruguay—a small Latin American country whose capital has a population of around 1.5 million people. Growing up, my social environment lacked visible trans people in my family, in my private school, in my small neighborhood in the suburbs, and overall social context. I am not oblivious to the fact that trans people have existed and still exist in Uruguay, but my first encounter with a trans person was online.
From a young age, I always felt different from the boys around me. I felt an ongoing pull toward belonging to the girls' groups, a feeling that eventually helped me better understand who I am today.
This sense of difference always felt intrinsic to me, as though I wasn’t meant to fit neatly into the binary. My personality, interests, and identity were in constant conflict with the male gender shaped and constructed by my social context. Yet, I couldn’t fully belong with the girls either due to my anatomy and chromosomes. As a result, I found myself engaging in what I now remember as “binary, forced cisgender events”—playing boys’ sports like soccer and rugby, wearing the male school uniform, and dressing in male-coded clothing outside of school. These experiences, though deeply misaligned with me, have shaped the person I am today. From as early as I can remember, there has been a fundamental rejection of the male gender within me, paired with an enduring fascination with the female gender. I didn’t want to play those sports, wear those clothes, or live the life expected of a little boy. There is a very evident breaking point for me, the first time I got called ‘pretty’ instead of ‘handsome’. I realized I wanted to be perceived as a girl because that was and is my identity, what feels accurate according to my knowledge.
It was through online platforms like YouTube that I first encountered what it meant to be transgender. Watching creators like Gigi Gorgeous helped me find language and helped me figure out who I was, and connect to a broader population. During my teenage years, I began to learn more about being transgender, primarily through social media and online groups. I was captivated, though I could not fully explain why. At 17, while discussing my struggles with the male gender and my place within the gay male gender stereotype—I had come out as gay at 15—a friend asked me, “Are you sure you’re not just trans?” My immediate response was, “Of course not.” At the time, I had been conditioned by my social context to see transgender people as mentally ill, or even associated with sex work. There wasn’t a single defining moment when I was told that being transgender was wrong, but certain experiences left a lasting impression. I remember one time, around the age of 10 when I wore my mother’s dresses and organized a “runway show” with my male friends as the audience. My stepfather pulled me aside and asked if boys my age were also doing this and whether it was “normal.” I lied and said, “Yes.” That moment crystallized for me the realization that my interests and identity set me apart from other boys—a difference I had already felt deeply and which likely contributed to the years of bullying I endured for being gay, feminine, or “girly.”
The power of social media during my teenage years was immense—it became a safe space, a protective blanket shielding me from the often unwelcoming outside world. Online, I found representation and inspiration, particularly through trans women like Laverne Cox in “Orange Is the New Black”. Her 2014 interview with TIME encapsulates why social media has such a profound impact on transgender teenagers. She stated, “We’re able to have a voice in a way that we haven’t been able to before. We’re being able to write our stories and we’re being able to talk back to the media” (Steinmetz, Katy., 2014). This ability to see and hear the stories of people like me was transformative. It allowed me to envision a future where I could embrace my identity, free from the constraints of societal expectations and norms. Social media wasn’t just a platform; it was a lifeline, a space where I could explore who I was without fear of judgment.
This is why I firmly believe that social media is essential for sharing stories like Laverne Cox’s and others to empower the trans youth and ‘set the agenda differently’. Growing up in Uruguay, I had no trans role models or peers. Even now, as an adult, I’ve only met a few from back home. The internet and the online world filled that void, offering me information, advice, and a sense of emotional refuge that helped me navigate the challenges of my teenage years. Transgender individuals are statistically more likely to face mental health struggles and have a lower life expectancy than their cisgender counterparts. For me, these realities hit painfully close to home. At 18 and 19, I attempted to end my own life twice. I truly believed there was no physical place for me to to transition, and social media showed me what life I could live in the future, it gave me hope by showing me other people’s stories that were going or went through the same thing as me.
This is not meant to be a sad story but rather a reflection on growth and self-discovery. As I grew older, I realized that leaving my home country was essential for me to fully explore and embrace my gender. My teenage years in Uruguay often highlighted the challenges of expressing myself authentically. A few years ago, I attended a party wearing makeup and a crop top, a small but significant step in affirming my identity. That night, I was hate-crimed by a group of five straight cisgender men my age. Their violence was a stark reminder of the risks associated with being visibly different in a society that struggles to accept diversity. Even earlier, in high school, when I began growing my hair longer—a small act of rebellion and self-expression—a male classmate cut off a piece of it with scissors. My hair held immense significance to me; it was the one part of my body that felt feminine and aligned with who I truly was. These experiences, while painful, fueled my determination to seek a life where I could live authentically and safely. In high school, a friend whom I had known for more than ten years threatened to out me and tell everyone I was gay because he found my Twitter (now X) filled with RuPaul’s Drag Race posts. There, I could explore my identity more openly than in regular society.
As I encountered the stories of other trans women online—each unique, neither overtly happier nor sadder than mine—I began to dream of moving abroad. I longed for a more open and respectful society where I could live authentically, free from the confines of a conservative, Hispanic, Catholic culture. That dream brought me to New York City, and these past few months have been a journey of self-discovery, since I find people here to be more open than back home to trans people. This sense of belonging, having trans friends, was something I had only previously glimpsed through online interactions—chatting with trans people, watching videos, and engaging with trans communities. Finding out more about what it was to be trans, opened my eyes to possibilities I hadn’t known existed in my youth. It revealed a community and a space for people like me, one often obscured and stigmatized by society as merely a ‘mental health problem’. This erasure of trans existence reinforces why visibility and representation matter so deeply. Online platforms introduced me to a world I didn’t know I could inhabit—a world where being trans is not a problem to be fixed but a life to be celebrated.
Regarding Social Media
Oliver Haimson
The foundation of this paper is deeply informed by the works of Oliver Haimson, a researcher who examines social media through the lens of "Intersectional Trans-Feminist Futures in HCI" (Human Computer Interaction). Haimson’s perspectives shed light on how social media platforms function as essential tools for social transition, providing unique spaces where transgender individuals can explore, express, and affirm their identities. His paper "Social Media as Social Transition Machinery" plays a pivotal role in this paper, illustrating the transformative power of digital platforms in enabling identity exploration and fostering community connections. Additionally, Haimson’s advocacy for "trans-competent interaction design" emphasizes the importance of creating digital environments that are not only inclusive but also attuned to the specific needs and challenges faced by transgender users. These frameworks collectively underscore the argument of this paper, emphasizing how social media platforms can and should be designed to empower marginalized communities, particularly transgender individuals, in their journey toward self-actualization and social acceptance.
In “Social Media as Social Transition Machinery”, Oliver L. Haimson expands Van Gennep’s liminality framework stages: Separation, Transition, to Incorporation. Haimson uses Gender Transition as a case study to analyze how people experience life transitions, and how trans people start by separating from their old selves, transitioning, and later reincorporating into society with a new identity (Haimson, Oliver L., 2018).
Haimson argues that “identity is multiple, fragmented, and complex,” challenging the notion that individuals can be confined to a singular, static identity or a single social media platform that assumes a lifelong, unchanging network. Instead, he posits that different social media sites collectively operate as components of a larger “social transition machinery,” working together to facilitate significant life transitions. Drawing on Van Gennep’s liminality framework, Haimson explores how these transitions unfold for transgender users in digital spaces, while critically examining the conventional understanding of the “transition” stage. He questions the characterization of this stage as “identity-less,” emphasizing that even during times of flux, users actively construct and express their identities in meaningful ways. This perspective not only broadens our understanding of identity formation in online spaces but also highlights the integral role of diverse social media platforms in supporting complex and dynamic identity journeys. (Haimson, Oliver L., 2018). The author argues that social media is a rite of passage for transitioning, but adds to the literature by challenging “sex reassignment surgery as the primary rite of passage”, and argues that “online identity reconstruction is the modern pivotal rite of passage”. Examples like newlywed couples, and mothers, sharing their life transitions online for a brief and intense period and after incorporation, the usage decreases. Social media as social transition machinery is defined by the author as a tool that users use to present multiple identities, for a trans person who they are on Facebook (at the time) is different than who they are on Tumblr. Social media can provide an escape to social networks, and presenting multiple identities at once is not dishonest, but rather part of the life transition process. (Haimson, Oliver L., 2018)
“Social Media as Social Transition Machinery” examines how technology designers should adopt a deeper understanding of their users and their unique transition processes, akin to the relationship between health professionals and their patients. Haimson presents four main arguments to support his findings: first, social media enables users to embrace and express multiple identities simultaneously; second, users maintain connections with their networks even during significant life transitions; third, social media platforms themselves function as critical tools for facilitating social transitions; and finally, they provide a means for individuals in transition to reconstruct their online identities as part of a symbolic rite of passage (Haimson, Oliver L., 2018).
Haimson’s work is central to this paper because it offers a transformative perspective on how social media shapes identity, particularly for transgender users. Haimson demonstrates that digital platforms are tools of empowerment, enabling individuals to navigate complex life transitions with agency and self-expression. I aim to reinforce the argument that social media when designed with trans competence and inclusivity, serves as critical infrastructure for marginalized communities not as a manipulative force, but as a mechanism for liberation, healing, and self-actualization.
Tumblr as a case study
“Tumblr was a trans technology” talks about the diverse policies implemented throughout Tumblr’s lifetime through the looking glass of Trans bloggers Haimson and others explore the changes in community standards of Tumblr and how in the early years, adult nudity was allowed, which was deemed “educational or medical in gender transition contexts”, but later on, Tumblr was purchased and introduced a policy that banned adult nudity. “Tumblr allowed trans users the changeability, network separation, and identity realness, along with the queer aspects of multiplicity, fluidity, and ambiguity, needed for gender transition. Haimson argues a trans technology enables trans experiences in these ways but must go beyond that. It also must uphold policies and an economic model that embraces adult or erotic content—an integral part of the transition and intersectional community building for many trans bloggers—without characterizing it as pornographic and removing it” (Haimson, Oliver L., Dame-Griff, Capello, Richter., 2021).
There are a series of themes that the authors explore and how these create a safe space or a trans technology. “Temporality, Openess, Change, Separation, Realness, Erotics and Intersectionality”. The authors discuss “temporality” which refers to the historical and social context in which trans users have existed on Tumblr and other social media platforms. The authors emphasize that while platforms like Tumblr have hosted vibrant trans communities, the corporate profit motive often undermines their ability to provide sustained support. For example, content moderation policies driven by advertising goals can result in the shadowbanning or outright removal of content related to the trans experience. Haimson highlights that advertisers often demand access to “ideal demographics,” leading to the exclusion of content that does not align with their narrowly defined target audiences. While I argue that social media companies may also capitalize on divisive content to radicalize certain groups—such as far-right users—as part of a profit-driven strategy, Haimson focuses on the structural limitations imposed by ad revenue models (Haimson et al., 2021). (Haimson, Oliver L., Dame-Griff, Capello, Richter., 2021).
“Openness” is another key theme, encompassing the platform’s ability to create a safe and comfortable environment where users can share personal stories, express emotions, and seek understanding. One interviewee described their transition blog as “my safe space,” a sentiment that resonates deeply with me. Growing up, I longed for such a space, but I only joined Tumblr after its 2017 policy changes, which had already begun to erode the openness that earlier users had experienced. This openness allowed trans individuals to explore their identities, share their journeys, and find solidarity in ways that were often unavailable offline (Haimson, Oliver L., Dame-Griff, Capello, Richter., 2021).
“Change” is a theme tied to the transformative experiences of trans users, both in their physical appearances and personal lives, as documented on their transition blogs. These blogs served as dynamic records of their journeys, showcasing the fluidity and evolution of their identities over time. “Separation” refers to the distinction between the online communities trans users built on Tumblr and their offline social networks. This separation was particularly important for individuals who faced stigma or rejection in their everyday lives, allowing them to connect with supportive communities without fear of judgment or discrimination. “Realness” captures the ability of trans users to present new or evolving identities online, which often became integral parts of their lived realities. The anonymity afforded by Tumblr further enhanced this realness by providing users with the flexibility to experiment with their identities without immediate real-world consequences (Haimson et al., 2021).
The final themes, “intersectionality and erotics”, are particularly significant in understanding the broader implications of Tumblr’s policy changes. The authors argue that the platform’s decision to ban adult content, including material related to gender reassignment surgery, was not only a blow to individual users but also to the broader trans community’s ability to produce and share knowledge. This decision disproportionately affected marginalized groups within the trans community, particularly trans people of color, who often face compounded barriers to visibility and support. The authors contend that erotic content, far from being gratuitous, was a powerful tool for community-building and self-expression. By sharing intimate aspects of their transitions, trans users reclaimed agency over their bodies and narratives, fostering a sense of empowerment and solidarity. The removal of such content, however, not only marginalized these users further but also perpetuated harmful stereotypes about trans people and their communities (Haimson et al., 2021).
Tumblr’s evolution from a haven for trans users to a platform with restrictive policies illustrates the broader challenges faced by social media companies in balancing community needs with profit-driven objectives. For trans users, platforms like Tumblr represent more than just digital spaces—they are lifelines, providing the tools and environments necessary for identity exploration, self-expression, and community.
By choosing this case study, I aim to highlight the critical role of social media in supporting marginalized communities. Tumblr’s early policies and the subsequent backlash against its restrictive changes demonstrate the need for platforms to adopt inclusive designs that empower their users. As a trans person, I believe that understanding and amplifying these stories is essential to advocating for better policies and ensuring that digital spaces remain safe and affirming for all.
Statistical Analysis on Mental Health published on the JAMA network
As a data-driven person, pursuing a Master of Science in Data Analytics and Visualizations, I wanted to explore academic research in the statistics field, to find if there was a correlation between social media use and transgender individuals. This study also goes into other fields, analyzing the behavior of cis people online and overall focuses on studying mental health in their respondents (Coyne, Sarah M., et al., 2023).
An analysis of Social Media Usage (referred to as SMU) published on the JAMA Open Network studies the variance of different variables across 1200 young US residents through a self-reported method. The motivation behind their study is that “Mental health among children and adolescents is a critical public health issue, and transgender and gender nonbinary youths are at an even greater risk” and “currently, 25% to 32% of TGNB youth attempt suicide”. This study argues social media plays a role in providing transgender and nonbinary youth a safe space to explore their identities online (Coyne, Sarah M., et al., 2023).
This analysis tests the relationship between SMU, identifying as TGNB (transgender and non-binary), and depression levels. They found that “depression and conduct problems were lower for TGNB youths when they reported regularly cleaning or curating their social media feed, but both depression and conduct disorders were higher for cisgender youths when they engaged in this same activity” (Coyne, Sarah M., et al., 2023).
This study resonates deeply with my personal experience of using social media as a trans individual. By curating my social media feed to align with my evolving identity and interests, I found a safe space where I could explore different parts of myself without judgment or external pressures. This process was not merely a passive consumption of content but an active and empowering exercise in self-expression and self-affirmation. Social media is a powerful tool for fostering resilience, connection, and self-discovery when used intentionally. These findings. strengthen the case for designing inclusive social media policies that cater to the unique needs of TGNB users while addressing the mental health challenges faced by young people across all identities.
Comparing Some Different Social Media Policies
Community standards are key to how community members behave and use social media. A study points out that “more research is also needed on how community standards evolve” and this analysis I have conducted will probably already be outdated and some of these extracts may have changed. (Bateman, Jon, Natalie Thompson, and Victoria Smith., 2021). I argue that a good indicator of how social media companies make their platforms online spaces and in the case of trans users may be finding information about gender-reaffirming surgery, which Oliver Haimson points out in “Tumblr was a trans technology”. But also adult nudity overall, and studying specifically what has been written about Meta’s ‘Real Name Policy’ are important parts of how social media community standards influence operations. These companies all have for-profit models, and inherently, their users well being is not the priority, since the algorithm itself feeds off the addiction some people have to use social media excessively because of their mental health.
We can analyze this table both ways, by company or by row, which means analyzing what they say concerning adult nudity or gender confirmation surgery. If we look at companies; Tumblr, Meta, and Titkok remove content with genitals, but Tumblr allows for mature content to be labeled. However, X allows adult nudity.
Tumblr has a very short policy, and they have changed their policy that Haimson references and explicitly states that they remove content with genitalia, without giving examples, this reflects that they default genitalia content as pornography or just nudity when it could be medical information.
Meta is known for having a ‘Real Name Policy’ which I will discuss later in this paper. They remove adult nudity and genitalia, except in “a medical or health context (...) such as gender confirmation surgery”. They refer to nudity as a form of protest, to raise awareness, and for education or medical reasons. It is a notable policy, and I found it to be restrictive but at least comprehensive.
TikTok is another example of not allowing adult content on their policy. They also forget to express that gender confirmation surgery can be information for medical reasons. They do not allow any adult nudity on their site, and even avoid showing restricted content in the algorithm of the “For You Page”. This means anyone could report a trans person’s account, and while the appeal is ongoing, their content would not get any views.
X defines adult nudity content as “material depicting adult nudity or sexual behavior that is pornographic or intended to cause sexual arousal. This also applies to AI-generated, photographic, or animated content such as cartoons, hentai, or anime. Examples include depictions of: full or partial nudity, including close-ups of genitals, buttocks, or breasts; explicit or implied sexual behavior or simulated acts such as sexual intercourse and other sexual acts.”
Finally, X differs in policy, they do not remove content with genitalia and users may share adult nudity. The company also places importance on consent and individual production and distribution, while associating sexual expression with artistic expression. A negative aspect could be the omission that gender confirmation surgery is not distributed as pornography to cause arousal, and they are two very different types of content. Making sure that is included in the policy could benefit trans users on the platform from hate speech and trolling.
If we read horizontally, some recommendations and highlights are pointed out. In regards to adult content, there are two sides, one prohibits it and one allows it. The other two mainly prohibit it but allow medical or labeled posts to stay up. If adult nudity is not allowed, gender-confirmation surgery images as information probably are not going to be allowed. However, X allows it and Meta names gender reassignment surgery as medical content, and they allow content of that type.
Labeling content seems to have worked for Tumblr’s case because users cannot see labeled content if they do not want to, but also as seen in Haimson’s research with Tumblr bloggers, they benefit from labels and tags to reach people who are queer, accepting and open. Meta states they allow medical content if labeled correctly, but the appeals are a complicated process, sometimes requiring to provide a Legal ID which might not be the same name on the user’s page, because of their ‘Real Name Policy”. I examined their data on appeals, and in 2023, 2 million posts were not restored after an appeal on Facebook and 100K on Instagram. The chances of getting a post back up again are 60% on Facebook and 90% on Instagram through an appeal, that has discourse online on how fair it is to trans users.
Another aspect I think is relevant to highlight is the mention of gender reassignment surgery in the company's policy. I believe either allowing this content (X) or not (Meta sometimes) is better than not mentioning this term as medical information (TikTok). Transparency is always going to benefit the users of the platform because they have to be able to know what is allowed or not explicitly to not get their accounts suspended.
Meta and their Legal or Real Name policy
Mark Zuckerberg said “[h]aving two identities for yourself is an example of lack of integrity.”, in “What’s in a name? Facebook’s Real Name Policy and User Privacy” Shun-Ling Chen, argues that this policy is dangerous because of the amount of data the user is giving with their legal name (gender, religion, generation, ethnicity, or country of origin). Moreover, she argues that Facebook [now Meta] is not a Social Media, but rather an “Identity Service” with a business model that the main goal is collecting as much data from users’ behavior. Chen quotes Zuckerberg saying that he admitted to Congress that data collection is the center of their business model (Chen, Shung-Ling., 2018).
Aside from the issues regarding data privacy this policy creates, Chen points out the “context collapse” users may not be able to separate social contexts, finding it awkward to communicate on the platform, while also not being able to “explore different personas” and possibly causing “ a chilling effect and hindering free speech”, while simultaneously “exposing marginalized communities to harassment or danger”. Another interesting aspect of the consequences of this policy is what happens to Native Americans because their names do not fit Western frames, drag queens getting their accounts suspended because their stage name is not a real name, or even abuse victims trying to protect themselves getting accounts deleted because of this Real Name Policy (Chen, Shung-Ling., 2018). It is also the only social media evaluated in this paper to have its users provide their legal name.
Chen explains that they caveat this policy by saying that real names foreclose bad behavior and associate anonymity with trolling. She states that anonymity is not the same as pseudonyms and that a real community can be built under a fake name. Her result or conclusion is that “Zuckerberg repeatedly emphasizes that users have control of their data, including how much of their data Facebook collects for targeted advertising” but “users do not have such control if Facebook continues to insist on its real name policy because our names contain a lot of information about us” (Chen, Shung-Ling., 2018).
Haimson co-wrote with Hoffman about this policy in “Constructing and enforcing "authentic" identity online: Facebook, real names, and non-normative identities”. Chen, Haimson, and Hoffman reference The Zuckerberg Files to argue against this policy, which contains “a digital archive of all publicly available utterances of Zuckerberg regarding Facebook from 2004 to 2014, compiled and maintained by Michael Zimmer (2013)” Haimson argues in “Social Media as Social Transition Machinery” that identity is multiple, while Zuckerberg believes this represents a lack of integrity. (Haimson, Oliver L., and Anna L. Hoffman, 2016) (Haimson, Oliver L., 2018).
Aside from the arguments these two research projects have against the policy, there is a statistical analysis by Oliver Haimson, regarding content moderation for three groups of individuals, conservatives, trans folk, and black people. “Disproportionate Removals and Differing Content Moderation Experiences for Conservative, Transgender, and Black Social Media Users: Marginalization and Moderation Gray Areas” is a research project that found that “Facebook often removes trans accounts as violating its “real name” policy, which simultaneously enforces and prevents online authenticity for trans users” (Haimson, Oliver L., Daniel Delmonaco, Peipei Nie, and Andrea Wegner., 2021).
Positionality Statement and Anti-Trans Dangerous Right Wing Rhetoric
To disclose my position on this subject, I am a trans person, and I think social media has to empower trans users and provide them with a space to explore identities, find information, build community, and find a safe place.
There has been a constant anti-trans movement throughout our history, but now more than ever it lives online, and there is the regular hate speech and trolling. Still, there is a growing academic content that argues that big tech is turning kids trans and that social media is being run by an evil group in California with an agenda (Eckert, Jared, and Mary McCloskey., 2022). From their point of view, I am the perfect case, since I first learned what trans was online, and these researchers would argue that YouTube was the main influence in my “turning” trans, but they miss a huge point, why did trans feel adequate for me? Why did all these people’s experiences that date back years and years feel common, and felt like me?
“Digital spaces are ever more designed to promote sexual and transgender content.” (Eckert, Jared, and Mary McCloskey., 2022). This is just not true. The authors use misinformation with no sources behind it, just commentary, to radicalize the reader, and make them feel that social media companies are promoting pornographic material to kids. As we have seen with social media policies, most of them ban adult nudity, except if labeled, or has a valid medical reason.
Eckert and McCloskey claim that X is banning users who argue that trans activism is grooming. They state there is a “woke design of social spaces”, and this a clear case of a misinformation campaign that only perpetuates harmful stereotypes erases trans history, and exposes trans people to harm and danger online and offline. Because even if trans creators were trying to take advantage of minors, the sharing of information and content regarding gender reassignment surgery and trans knowledge, is being compared to a case of sexual abuse, for being perceived as an attempt to establish an emotional connection with a vulnerable person. However this may apply, the user sharing the information does not get a direct benefit, rather than just building community. These far right-wing researchers are portraying trans creators as cult leaders who get benefits from “converting” minors trans (Eckert, Jared, and Mary McCloskey., 2022).
As I write, the United States is embroiled in a heated debate over gender-affirming care. It’s crucial to address the harmful rhetoric that perpetuates misinformation, such as the baseless claim that Eckert and McCloskey make. President Donald Trump has added fuel to this discourse, stating the false claim, “Can you imagine you’re a parent and your son leaves the house and you say, ‘Jimmy, I love you so much, go have a good day in school,’ and your son comes back with a brutal operation? Can you even imagine this? What the hell is wrong with our country?” (Brandon, Alex., 2024).
This rhetoric reflects the ongoing battle between two opposing perspectives: one believes in a conspiracy that executives are forcing children into transitioning against their will, while the other seeks to empower transgender youth by providing them the support and space to grow into healthy, self-actualized adults. I stand firmly with the latter.
My own story is a testament to the importance of such spaces, both online and offline, in enabling transgender individuals to thrive. There is not a gender ideology online to “turn kids trans”, we finally have somewhere to resonate and explore with different identities. Social media does not make kids trans, there have been trans people throughout history, across cultures and our experiences are not a product of online activity and gender ideology, but rather authentic self-discovery, social media companies provide this anonymous, safe space for trans users that may feel misaligned with social gender norms.
Recommendations for current social media sites
To my knowledge and my lived experiences, it is important to protect trans youth, since they are the weakest group to fall into mental health issues. There is power in sharing trans stories and giving them a platform, and visibility. It impacts the whole trans community, and in this paper, I argue how social media is the perfect place to explore different identities online. Haimson also supports this; “digital spaces can be important places for identity exploration without some of the barriers present in the physical world” (Haimson, Oliver L., 2018).
Oliver L. Haimson’s research contributes other recommendations. Mainly centered on “trans competent interaction design”, he reaffirms the power building a community has, and that social media platforms should opt for a non-profit model or a “cooperative approach” (Haimson, Oliver L., Dame-Griff, Capello, Richter., 2021). “Tumblr was a trans technology” explores a set of values that describe how to create a trans technology, with the first goal being empowering trans users. He characterizes Tumblr as a trans technology because of “Temporality, Openness, Change, Separation, Realness, Erotics and Intersectionality” (Haimson, Oliver L., Dame-Griff, Capello, Richter., 2021). The overall argument of his research is that trans people need a place to explore a “flexibility in identity” sometimes, because their social context is not fit for them.
Moreover, in his research with others regarding content removals for trans users, they give four recommendations; tagging or labeling content, applying different content moderation approaches instead of just one, using specialized tools for marginalized groups, and involving communities affected in creating moderation policy (Haimson, Oliver L., Delmonaco, Nie, Wegner., 2021).
Haimson also is interested in Meta’s Real name policy, which is a prime example of how social media policies can harm marginalized communities like trans people. He found that Facebook (at that time) was suspending trans users’ accounts because they breached the ‘Real Name Policy’, and also argued that identity is multiple, which the CEO of Meta Mark Zuckerberg has disagreed, with and believes is “dishonest” (Haimson, Oliver L., Anna Lauren Hoffman., 2016). Shung-Ling Chen, another researcher interested in the ‘Real Name Policy’, issues a very strong statement that “Anonymity is quite different from pseudonymity”, which also aligns with what Haimson believes could improve social media companies, that anonymity is key to exploring different identities and creating that separation between online life and social context (Chen, Shung-Ling., 2018).
In regards to the analysis of social media policies, I found that it is better to allow gender reassignment surgery content on the platforms and classify this content as medical information, not pornography. However, there is a possibility of introducing an industry-wide standard of labeling content, to personalize algorithms of our own social media feeds, but also protect others who are not interested in seeing these posts. There is also another point, that Haimson calls companies to act on, and that is visibility and transparency, which I found that not all of them mention the words ‘gender reassignment or confirmation surgery’ in their policies. This could benefit trans users from online hate speech but also make room for them on the platforms.
In regards to Meta, they have an extensive policy that did not allow gender confirmation surgery content but did name it, there is some mystery regarding the appeals some of the content creators on that platform face. They assure that this content may remain on their site if it is correctly labeled, but there is discourse online of people not being able to navigate through appeals regarding the legal name policy. This policy specifically is an example of what not to do as a social media company. There is an issue in believing that identity is constant and not multiple, but also there is a data privacy issue with giving that kind of personal or legal information.
To conclude, it is relevant to acknowledge the growing far right-wing rhetoric on trans youth. Transgender people have existed throughout history and are not conditioned to behave a certain way by social media companies, we exist from lived experiences and authentic personal discoveries. This rhetoric is dangerous because of the use of misinformation campaigns to convince the public of a ‘gender ideology’, to further marginalize trans people and expose them to harmful and dangerous situations online and in real life.
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