Abstract:

Persons defined as lesbians, gay, bisexual transgender and intersex (LGBT+) are often excluded from social life due to unfair discrimination due to their sexual orientation or identity. LGBT+ individuals, who are excluded from social life because of their identity, are faced with many inequality in their daily lives and live a social life under unfair standards. This article analyzes some theoretical foundations that could lead to the recognition of the concept of social media use by LGBT+ individuals as a result of social exclusion. Quantitative research suggests that LGBT+ individuals turn to social media as a result of exclusion they encounter in social life and a model of the multi-dimensional aspects of social media socialization, access to news/information and activism. In this study, the social and social inequality faced by LGBT+ persons living in Turkey, socialization, access to news/information and activism/action practices were addressed in the context of technological developments and changing communication processes. In this context, an online survey of 63 questions on alternative media channels and social media uses of LGBT+ individuals was created and data collected from people aged 18 and older (n=454) defined as LGBT+ in Turkey (n=10) were analyzed. These findings are aimed at highlighting the need for LGBT+ individuals who are excluded from social life to conduct a more comprehensive study of the use of social media.

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