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Exploring Positive Youth Development In Online Spaces: 3 Key Insights To Create Thriving & Positive Outcomes For LGBTQ+ Young People

Written by: Tommy Marzella, Katherine Ross, Ph.D., and Diane Hsieh, Ph.D. For over a decade, The Trevor Project has operated TrevorSpace, an affirming, online community for LGBTQ+ young people between the ages of 13-24. TrevorSpace helps young people explore their identities, get peer advice, find peer support and joy, and make friends in a moderated community. TrevorSpace is designed for young people to start or enter conversations around their identity and interests, including topics like mental health, gender identity, sexual orientation, coming out, as well as entertainment, games, debate, and more. With fewer than 40% of LGBTQ young people finding…
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The Importance of Safe Language On Social Media

As a suicide prevention organization for LGBTQ+ young people, The Trevor Project regularly sees unsafe language that many use on social media without consideration for others’ mental health. Whether targeting our organization, the LGBTQ+ young people we serve, or the judges, government officials, advocates, and supporters who work with us, there is an urgent need for social media platforms and their users to take action to protect the safety of our community. The Trevor Project is strongly aware of the negative impact that language can have on mental health; unsafe language and harassment is often directed at the LGBTQ+ youth…