SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — None of the major social media platforms adequately protect LGBTQ+ users from bigoted speech and harassment — especially toward those who are transgender, nonbinary, or gender nonconforming — the group said Thursday. of defense GLAAD. But Twitter is the worst.
In its Annual Index on Social Media Safety, GLAAD gave Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and Twitter low or failing scores, saying the platforms aren’t doing enough to keep their users safe. However, most have improved in the past year.
Twitter, which last October was acquired by Tesla CEO Elon Musk, was the only exception. GLAAD’s scorecard called it “the most dangerous platform for LGBTQ people” and the only one that saw its scores drop from last year.
Twitter’s communications staff were laid off after Musk took over the company, and for months questions directed at the press office have received only an automated response of a poop emoji, as was the case when The Associated Press contacted to the company for comment.
Advocates for the rights of the LGBTQ+ community have long warned that online intolerance and harassment can lead to violence beyond the internet. But even when it’s not, online aggression can take a toll on a person’s mental health.
“Not a week goes by that we don’t have a doxing situation for someone in our community where we have to step in and help stop the bigotry, stop the poison and stop the bullying,” said GLAAD CEO and President Sarah Kate Ellis. , referring to the malicious practice of collecting another’s private or identifying information and posting it online without the person’s permission, often in an attempt to harass, threaten, embarrass, or retaliate. “It’s really grown to a level never seen before.”
