Major social media platforms fail to protect LGBTQ users, advocacy group GLAAD says - AP News

Published: Tuesday, May 13, 2025 at 1:01 pm

Social Media Platforms Failing LGBTQ+ Users, GLAAD Report Finds

A new report from GLAAD, the LGBTQ+ advocacy group, reveals that major social media platforms are failing to adequately protect LGBTQ+ users from hate and harassment. The annual Social Media Safety Index highlights a concerning trend: platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter) are either failing to implement or actively rolling back safety measures, contributing to a hostile online environment.

The report assigns numeric scores to each platform based on LGBTQ+ safety, privacy, and expression. Elon Musk's X received the lowest score, a mere 30 out of 100. TikTok scored the highest at 56, while Meta's Facebook, Instagram, and Threads, along with Google's YouTube, landed in the 40s. GLAAD emphasizes that these scores are not directly comparable to previous years due to methodological changes.

A key concern highlighted in the report is the impact of policy changes. Meta, for example, has loosened restrictions, allowing users to call LGBTQ+ individuals "mentally ill." Google's YouTube has also removed gender identity and expression from its list of protected characteristics, raising concerns about the platform's commitment to protecting transgender, nonbinary, and gender-nonconforming users. While Google maintains its hate speech policies haven't changed, GLAAD disputes this, urging YouTube to reinstate gender identity and expression as protected characteristics.

GLAAD's report comes at a time when real-world violence and harassment against LGBTQ+ individuals is on the rise. The organization argues that social media companies are profiting from anti-LGBTQ+ hate instead of ensuring the safety of their users. The report offers policy recommendations, including protecting LGBTQ+ individuals from hate speech, prohibiting misgendering and deadnaming, and providing transparency on content moderation practices.

BNN's Perspective: While it's crucial to protect vulnerable groups online, it's also important to balance free speech with safety. The report raises valid concerns about the impact of policy changes on LGBTQ+ users. Social media platforms have a responsibility to create a safe environment, but they must also avoid overreach that could stifle legitimate expression. Finding the right balance is a complex challenge, and ongoing dialogue between platforms, advocacy groups, and users is essential.

Keywords: Social Media, LGBTQ+, GLAAD, Hate Speech, Harassment, X, Twitter, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, Meta, Google, Safety, Policy, Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, Gender Identity, Transgender, Nonbinary, Discrimination, Online Safety, Social Media Safety Index, Anti-LGBTQ+, Free Speech

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