Queer Indians fight for right to safe spaces on Instagram, X, Facebook: ‘abuse is pervasive’
- Calls for better moderation on social media are growing after a teen influencer who was cyberbullied took his life
- Advocates say the need for better protection has never been so urgent, with a 25 per cent rise in cyberstalking and cyberbullying in 2022 against the previous year
Sexual minorities say it is hard enough being openly gay or transgender in India, and the pressure only mounts in the online world, where advocates blame weak content moderation for an explosion in derogatory feedback.
“In India, the online abuse faced by LGBTQ creators, predominantly on Instagram, is pervasive and includes death threats, hate speech, rape threats, bullying and other forms of harassment,” said Jeet, founder of Yes, We Exist, an LGBTQ advocacy group on Instagram.
The widespread abuse significantly impacts the mental health of LGBTQ people, leading some to self-censor, limit online activities or, in rare cases, consider self-harm, said Jeet, who goes by one name.
While legal protections exist, investigation of complaints is slow and convictions for abuse are scarce, he added.
Even if companies such as Instagram have strongly worded policies on hate speech, LGBTQ advocates say that parent company Meta falls short on enforcement, raising questions about its commitment to minority protection.