‘Our Online-Ness Matters’: The Construction of Social Media Presences by Malaysian LGBTQ Communities.

Collin, Jerome (2023) ‘Our Online-Ness Matters’: The Construction of Social Media Presences by Malaysian LGBTQ Communities. In: New Media in the Margins.: Lived Realities and Experiences from the Malaysian Peripheries. Palgrave Macmillan, Singapore, pp. 148-168. ISBN 978-981-19-7140-2

PDF cover.pdf Download (1MB)

Abstract

There has been a recent surge of interest in and research into the use of social media among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer/questioning (LGBTQ) communities in Malaysia. Most studies, however, tend to focus on the communities’ motivations for using social media, and much more needs to be known about their actual social media usage and impact—especially what “online-ness” means and why it matters to them, given the diversity within these marginalised communities. Therefore, this chapter examines social media usage among members of Malaysia’s LGBTQ communities, in terms of their positions on the spectrum and the particularities of their online-ness. Based on the findings of a nationwide survey of LGBTQ individuals regarding their social media experiences, it discusses what online-ness means to them, the ways in which it is managed, its benefits and drawbacks as well as their future use of social media. It ends with a summary of the ways through which open and supportive discussions of online-ness can be created between members of these communities and the mainstream Malaysian public. This chapter is not intended to cover any of these topics in great detail—rather, it lays the groundwork for future studies regarding the nuances that not only characterise local LGBTQ communities, but which also shape their social media realities and experiences.

Actions (For repository members only: login required)

View Item