A new study by The Trevor Project illuminates the powerful role online spaces play in the mental health of LGBTQ+ young people, and the potential risks and benefits they encounter every time they log in.

That ratio between the two is magnified in particular for transgender and nonbinary (TGNB) youth, researchers found.

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Using data from The Trevor Project’s 2024 U.S. National Survey on the Mental Health of LGBTQ+ Young People, the authors examined LGBTQ+ young people’s use of online platforms (including their motivations for going online), and how their experiences relate to mental health and suicide.

Aligning with prior research on the benefits of online spaces for LGBTQ+ youth, researchers found that many LGBTQ+ youth turn to online platforms for connection, with a majority reporting that they could be their authentic selves in these spaces.

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Access to online spaces where youth feel safe and understood was related to better mental health and a lower likelihood of past-year suicide consideration or attempts.

However, LGBTQ+ youth who reported higher rates of mental health problems and considering or attempting suicide in the past year were also more likely to go online to connect with others due to difficulty finding connection in their daily lives.

Research has consistently documented the harmful impacts of negative online experiences and cyberbullying on LGBTQ+ young people’s mental health, the authors say, with cyberbullying being related to lower self-esteem, depression, suicidal ideation, and attempts.

But even in the face of these risks, LGBTQ+ youth still report using online spaces, possibly due to the variety of benefits they can offer, like a sense of community, support, and resources.

TGNB youth in particular report using online spaces despite knowing they may encounter gender-related victimization, harassment, and exclusion, partly because some may consider these negative online experiences to be normal, the authors say.

Among a wide number of social platforms, 59% of respondents felt safest on the video-sharing application TikTok and very unsafe on Facebook. (Just 4% felt safe on Facebook). Approximately 53% of TGNB youth reported feeling safe and understood on the group chat website Discord, compared to 30% of cisgender youth who felt the same way on the same website.

Compared to 65% of their cisgender peers, 79% of TGNB youth were more likely to agree that they go online to find others because it is hard to make in-person connections. Approximately 78% of TGNB youth said they feel they can be their complete selves online, compared to 64% of cisgender youth.

The majority of LGBTQ+ young people agreed that they go online to connect with others because it is difficult to do so in their daily lives, with 38% somewhat agreeing and 36% strongly agreeing with that sentiment. A similar number of participants somewhat agreed (38%) or strongly agreed (35%) that they could be their complete selves online.

Both of these findings varied by gender identity, with 79% of TGNB youth reporting higher rates of going online to connect due to difficulty with in-person connections compared to 65% of their cisgender peers.

The study’s authors noted the high risk/benefit ratio LGBTQ+ youth face online, allowing them to reap the benefits of community connection while also reporting worse mental health than their cisgender peers, including higher rates of anxiety, depression, and past-year suicide consideration and attempts.

“Given the impact of unsupportive environments and experiences on LGBTQ+ youth, many may experience mental health challenges and turn to online platforms for connection and support, potentially explaining these findings,” the authors said.

However, “using these results to justify limiting access to online platforms could have harmful consequences, possibly increasing isolation and reducing support for LGBTQ+ youth, thereby exacerbating mental health challenges and suicide risk,” the study’s authors added.

“Instead, these findings can be used to help identify LGBTQ+ youth in need of support,” the authors continued. “If LGBTQ+ youth are struggling to connect offline and are relying on online spaces for connection, they may benefit from additional assistance and resources, both online and in-person.”

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