Social Media Insights from Sexuality and Gender Diverse Young People During COVID-19

To date, this report is one of the largest qualitative study of sexuality and gender diverse young people and their use of social media platforms. This study had two broad aims: firstly to better understand the ways sexuality and gender diverse young people are engaging with social media platforms, and secondly, using a rapid prototyping methodological design, to reimagine with young people the ways platforms can respond to LGBTQIA+ young people’s needs. This ‘reimagining’ explored how platforms could better support queer young peoples experiences of design features, through policy, moderation and organisational measures

Navigating Uncertainty: Australian Young Adult Investors and Digital Finance Cultures

As investing becomes more accessible for younger investors through emerging digital products and services, industry groups and regulation bodies are concerned about increasing numbers of inexperienced young adults starting to invest. Responses to these concerns have focused on media regulation and better financial education to address financial literacy gaps and reduce harm from financial losses. However, these interventions may be misdirected or inadequate without understanding the experiences and needs of young adult investors. In April and May 2021, researchers undertook five focus group discussions with 21 young adults, aged 19 to 30 years to examine: How and why do young adults in Australia invest in the stock market? How do young adults understand risk in the context of investing and finance? How do young adult investors learn about finance and investing, and how do social media, digital trading platforms and other technologies influence learning about investing? Key findings: Young adults understand that investing on the stock market comes with risk; Young adults were focused on their financial independence and security for the future; Young adults learn about investing and finance through their personal networks and by participating in digital finance cultures

"Hey, I'm having these experiences" : Tumblr use and young people's queer (dis)connections

This article explores LGBTIQ+ young people’s use of Tumblr—a social media platform often associated with queer youth cultures. Drawing on data from surveys (N = 1,304) and interviews (N = 23) with LGBTIQ+ young people in Australia, we argue that existing notions of “queer community” through digital media participation do not neatly align with young people’s Tumblr practices. Our participants use Tumblr for connecting with others, yet these connections can be indirect, short term, and anonymous. Connections are often felt and practiced without directly communicating with other users, and many participants described their connections to the Tumblr platform itself as intense, pivotal to learning about genders and sexualities, and sometimes “toxic.” We suggest that Tumblr use intensities reflect many young people’s (dis)connections to queer life. Participant accounts of Tumblr use for identity, well-being, and (dis)connection practices can usefully inform health, education, and community workers engaging with LGBTIQ+ young people

The Daily Mile as a public health intervention : a rapid ethnographic assessment of uptake and implementation in South London, UK

Background: Existing evidence identifies health benefits for children of additional daily physical activity (PA) on a range of cardiovascular and metabolic outcomes. The Daily Mile (TDM) is a popular scheme designed to increase children’s PA within the school day. Emerging evidence indicates that participation in TDM can increase children’s PA, reduce sedentarism and reduce skinfold measures. However, little is known about the potential effects of TDM as a public health intervention, and the benefits and disbenefits that might flow from wider implementation in ‘real world’ settings. Methods: We aimed to identify how TDM is being implemented in a naturalistic setting, and what implications this has for its potential impact on population health. We undertook a rapid ethnographic assessment of uptake and implementation in Lewisham, south London. Data included interviews (n = 22) and focus groups (n = 11) with stakeholders; observations of implementation in 12 classes; and analysis of routine data sources to identify school level factors associated with uptake. Results: Of the 69 primary schools in one borough, 33 (48%) had adopted TDM by September 2018. There were no significant differences between adopters and non-adopters in mean school population size (means 377 vs 397, P = 0.70), mean percentage of children eligible for free school meals (16.2 vs 14.3%, P = 0.39), or mean percentage of children from Black and Minority Ethnic populations (76.3 vs 78.2%, P = 0.41). Addressing obesity was a key incentive for adoption, although a range of health and educational benefits were also hypothesised to accrue from participation. Mapping TDM to the TIDierR-PHP checklist to describe the intervention in practice identified that considerable adaption happened at the level of borough, school, class and pupil. Population health effects are likely to be influenced by the interaction of intervention and context at each of these levels. Conclusions: Examining TDM in ‘real world’ settings surfaces adaptions and variations in implementation. This has implications for the likely effects of TDM, and points more broadly to an urgent need for more appropriate methods for evaluating public health impact and implementation in complex contexts

Gender Equity in the Workplace: Intersectional and Gender & Sexuality Diverse Approaches

Workplaces are increasingly looking to expand their equity and diversity work to understand how to address aspects of identity that intersect with gender or sexuality, and with genders and sexualities beyond binary (M/F) understandings. There are solid business and moral cases that can be made for this expansion. The Sexualities and Genders Research Stream at WSU approach this area from a social justice lens, reflecting WSU's key commitment to the principle of Equity. WSU is emerging as a national leader for research into intersectionality and the inclusion of trans* and gender diversity, in gender equity across the sector

Being There: Young People Supporting Their Friends through Tough Times

This report documents one of the largest mixed methods studies to date examining informal help support provided by young people to their friends. We report on national survey data (n=169), as well as focus group data with 34 young people aged 16 - 25 who provide support to their friends. Specifically, the study examines the experiences of friends who support friends through tough times by focusing on how they perform this support, what resources young supporters use and have access to, what constrains this support and what they might need to enable the support they provide to their friends and peers. Our findings show the critical work young people are doing as supporters and documents the careful personalised support they offer their friends. Following sector consultations and discussions with young people, we offer key recommendations to ensure young people are resourced and supported in their care practices

Deploying ICT-based resources for LGBT young people in Asia

In this blog post I focus on my PhD research, which is examining the role of new technologies for LGBT youth living within such contexts. I begin by considering the current field of research and, within this context, discuss my PhD study. I then share some preliminary findings of my work that were presented at the TASA Youth Postgraduate Day in November 2014, and consider some possible directions for this research based on the feedback from the panellists

New research shows how social media use contributes to health of young LGBTIQ+ people

A new study has explored how turning to the web can help people through gender transition or find comfort in the face of marginalisation and discrimination. Social media isn’t just a place to chat, find events and post photos – it can also open up avenues of support. For many LGBTIQ+ young people, online spaces can provide access to important knowledge and information and connect them to others in similar positions

LGBT+ Youth and Emerging Technologies in Southeast Asia: Designing for Wellbeing

This book investigates the ways in which emerging digital technologies are shaping and changing the worlds of sexuality and gender diverse youth in Southeast Asia. Primarily focused on the Philippines, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, and Malaysia, the book examines the potential of digital technologies to enhance wellbeing in and across these contexts. Drawing on multi-site ethnographic field research, interviews, survey data, and online content analysis, the book examines the design and use of websites and content by and for LGBT+ youth. The book innovatively interrogates the design of transnational digital wellbeing initiatives alongside the digital practices of those whom the technologies are designed for. It illustrates not only the (im)possibilities of technological design but also the capacity for design to participate in what Hanckel calls ‘(trans)national digital wellbeing’ processes. He asks us to consider the ways that global technologies are contextual—a paradox that is explored throughout the book. The analysis extends important discussions in youth research, contributing to a greater understanding of how LGBT+ youth are engaging new technologies to participate in identity-making, health and wellbeing, as well as political action

Social media and young LGBTIQ+ people

A new study from a research fellow at King’s College London has explored how turning to the web can help people through gender transition or find comfort in the face of marginalisation and discrimination