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Do you sometimes use TikTok or other platforms to get ideas and inspiration for cool clothes, dance moves, or good music? Maybe you’ve discovered that a lot of what’s posted there has something to do with you as a person? For queer people in particular, platforms like TikTok seem to be places for self-discovery. Read on to learn more about this exciting topic.
Why TikTok is so relevant for queer people
TikTok is best known for dance videos and viral challenges. But it’s actually much more than that: it’s a digital space where many queer people can discover their personalities, connect with each other, and boost their self-esteem. Precisely because TikTok is so visual, creative, and accessible, many people use the platform for self-expression, education, and community building.
TikTok as a medium for self-discovery
There are many queer people who feel little or no representation offline. TikTok offers them the opportunity to make themselves visible, show their own identities, or discover new role models for themselves, for example through queer creators who document their everyday lives, their transition, or their coming out on the platform. Studies show how powerful role models can be in encouraging others. Many young users report that TikTok has helped them find the courage to come out themselves.
The TikTok LGBTQIA+ community inspires and supports a great many people. This is also reflected in the number of views of the most popular hashtags. Last year alone, the hashtags #LGBT and #Pride achieved 66 billion and 10 billion views worldwide, respectively. The hashtag #RegenbogenFamilie (rainbow family) has racked up over 180 million views.
TikTok as a digital “Dr. Sommer”
If you look around on TikTok, you’ll find posts on almost every queer topic, from trans*, non-binary, or asexual perspectives to different cultural backgrounds and body types. This gives you the opportunity to find yourself in many versions of queer lifestyles. Platforms like TikTok combine entertainment with education. In addition to entertainment, education also plays an important role.
Many creators share content on queer topics that are often not covered in schools. You can learn what “binding,” “tucking,” or various gender terms mean, or find out about experiences with bullying, hormones, or pelvic techniques. To do this, simply watch 60-second videos that often have incredible emotional depth.
For many young people, TikTok has become the first port of call when it comes to LGBTQIA+ issues. Young people from conservative backgrounds in particular find valuable information there.
Exchange & community: Together instead of alone
Platforms such as TikTok work with hashtags and For You pages for queer users. They then use specific hashtags such as #LGBT, #QueerTok, #RainbowFamily, or creative variations such as “g@y” and “homoseggsuell” to become more visible algorithmically without being blocked by TikTok’s censorship algorithm. The algorithm then searches for content that empowers and helps you grow when you interact accordingly.
Safe spaces and comment interaction ensure that users interact appropriately. Many queer-oriented accounts take a safe space approach in their comment sections. Questions are answered objectively, hateful comments are consistently deleted, and discussion spaces are consciously moderated. This creates space for exchange, questions, and recognition.
There are also group-specific offerings, networks, and collaborative projects. These include, for example, the project “DIVE IN – Die queere WG auf TikTok” (DIVE IN – The queer flat share on TikTok). In “DIVE IN,” creators share their everyday experiences and build interactive offerings, such as workshops, thereby reaching a wider audience. Such projects show how the queer community is becoming visible on the platform.
Visibility creates impact
Creators repeatedly combine humorous, aesthetic content with educational topics, such as adoption rights, pregnancy in rainbow families, or gender norms. This results in content that is fun and at the same time conveys useful information that expands your knowledge and skills.
One major advantage of TikTok and similar platforms is that they allow you to encounter diverse queer realities. You not only learn about one aspect of queerness, but also gain insight into the vast field of identities: from people of color to trans* and genderqueer to queer parents. This (ideally) increases recognition of diversity and provides you with a lot of inspiration for your own reality.
A major problem is the loneliness that queer young people often suffer from, especially if they live far away from large cities. They need support in difficult times, and this is exactly where TikTok and similar platforms can be helpful. Many queer teenagers and young adults report feeling lonely after coming out in online forums. Online communities such as TikTok chats, Lambda project groups, peer support, or rainbow chats give hope and offer the opportunity for exchange.
Risks and limitations of TikTok and similar platforms
The potential psychological effects of using these platforms should not be underestimated. TikTok has been proven to be addictive, especially for young users. The constant pressure to present oneself in a certain way and the constant comparison with others can lead to enormous stress. Feelings of inferiority can also arise. It is best to maintain a critical media literacy so that you can remain relaxed.
There are two other important problems on TikTok that need to be clearly addressed here. We are talking about cyberbullying and hate speech. Many queer creators receive hateful comments and are attacked online for their content. It is important to be vigilant and, above all, to respond consistently, in the worst case with a complaint.
Unfortunately, TikTok also seems to engage in so-called algorithmic censorship. This means that queer content is sometimes hidden by TikTok’s moderators. There are repeated reports of relevant clips being muted or deleted entirely without violating any guidelines, which is quite frustrating because it results in important knowledge being lost.
These are challenges that you as a user have to face, or at least be aware of. Nevertheless, TikTok has become an important place for queer people. The knowledge that the platform is constantly evolving and will hopefully become even more inclusive gives us hope.
Practical tips for using TikTok
Interact with the right hashtag strategy. Consciously use queer hashtags and also use creative variations if sensitive terms are muted by the platform. For example: #queerTok, #gaypride, or #lgbtqia, with alternative spellings in case of bans.
Interact in a targeted manner. Simply mark content with a like, comment, or save if it touches you emotionally or you have learned something. This way, the algorithm learns to show you more relevant content.
Choose your followers carefully. You should also only follow creators who understand you or inspire you in some way—such as @maybegayby, @mx.gialu, @die_michalskis, or @diehuepsche.
Seek out exchanges with scene institutions. If you are looking for more intensive peer support, Lambda e.V., for example, offers TikTok online groups and counseling services. You can also find locally active queer centers such as the Sonntags-Club in Berlin or the Akademie Waldschlösschen on TikTok, where they actively participate in queer platform activities.
Be creative yourself. Why not create your own videos for the platform? Tell your coming-out story, post tutorials and reactions, or share great, silly, or just normal everyday experiences from your queer identity perspective. This is not only good for you, but can also encourage other people. Maybe your video will even go viral if you are completely authentic.
Conclusion: You are not alone
Today, TikTok is a space for many queer people to find themselves, exchange ideas, and gain visibility. However, the platform is also a place that requires your critical awareness. When you get involved, you’ll see that you’re not alone. Generation Z in particular uses TikTok to showcase queer lifestyles and encourage each other. On TikTok, you can laugh, but you can also learn and reflect. You can also make a difference yourself if you get involved.