Twitter as an opportunity: LGBT+ identities, community, and security

Abstract

This final degree project aims to delve into the social network Twitter with the objective of addressing three fundamental questions regarding the LGBT+ community. Throughout this research, the intention is to explore the role that social media plays in the lives of individuals belonging to this community, as well as to analyze their use of the Twitter platform. One of the central questions that arises is to understand if Twitter represents a safe space for the LGBT+ community. To achieve this, a comprehensive analysis of the experiences, interactions, and dynamics that take place on this social network will be conducted. Secondly, it will investigate how LGBT+ users utilize Twitter as a means to express their identity, as well as the strategies they employ to self-describe and interact with other community members. Lastly, the concept of "community" will be examined in the exclusively online context, and the social relevance of the digital presence of LGBT+ individuals on Twitter will be evaluated, both at an individual and collective level. In order to narrow the scope of the research, it will focus on a specific group of users dedicated to the video games Uncharted, The Last of Us, and Apex Legends, within the millions of users that make up the platform. It should be noted that this research has been conducted through digital ethnography, which has involved establishing friendship bonds with the participants, who have provided their informed consent to be part of this study. This methodology has allowed for a deeper understanding of the experiences and perspectives of LGBT+ individuals on Twitter, thus enriching the research outcomes.