TikTok kao prostor LGBTQ+ inkluzivnosti: digitalna etnografija

master's thesis

• Title (english): TikTok as a Space of LGBTQ+ Inclusivity: A Digital Ethnography
• Author: Lara Kalšan
• Mentor: Marija Bartulović (mentor)
• Committee member: Ana Širanović (predsjednik povjerenstva)
• Committee member: Dorijan Vahtar (član povjerenstva)
• Granter: University of Zagreb; Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences; (Department of Pedagogy); Zagreb
• Defense date and country: 2023-09-22, Croatia
• Scientific / art field, discipline and subdiscipline: SOCIAL SCIENCES; Pedagogy; Social Pedagogy

Abstract

Društvene mreže imaju potencijal za stvaranje sigurnih prostora inkluzivnosti za članove LGBTQ+ zajednice koje ne mogu uvijek pronaći u stvarnome svijetu. Tijekom pandemije bolesti COVID-19 digitalna platforma TikTok uvelike je porasla u popularnosti te su LGBTQ+ osobe na njoj stvorile zajednicu za pružanje podrške i pomoći, davanje savjeta, širenje informacija, opovrgavanje stereotipa i borbu protiv diskriminacije. Cilj je ovog rada istražiti potencijal TikToka kao platforme za poučavanje o LGBTQ+ zajednici, promicanje pozitivnih stavova o njoj i stvaranje sigurnog online prostora za slobodno izražavanje LGBTQ+ osoba. U radu se postavljaju definicije LGBTQ+ termina te se objašnjavaju procesi razvoja LGBTQ+ identiteta. Predstavljaju se dosadašnja relevantna istraživanja načina na koje LGBTQ+ osobe koriste društvene mreže, a dio se rada pobliže usmjerava na TikTok. Kvalitativno se istražuje potencijal TikToka u stvaranju prostora inkluzivnosti metodom digitalne etnografije, a rezultati su analizirani kroz tematsku analizu. U analizi se predstavljaju četiri glavne teme kojih se najviše dotiču LGBTQ+ korisnici TikToka: borba protiv diskriminacije, coming out proces, razvoj identiteta i podrška zajednice. Rezultati pokazuju da TikTok pruža slobodu izražavanja svojih mišljenja i svog identiteta te služi kao prostor inkluzivnosti za LGBTQ+ zajednicu, no primjene ovih saznanja izvan digitalne sfere otvaraju put novim istraživanjima.

Abstract (english)

Social media platforms have the potential to create inclusive safe spaces for members of the LGBTQ+ community which they cannot always find in the real world. During the COVID-19 pandemic, one digital platform – TikTok – has greatly grown in popularity, so LGBTQ+ people have created a community on there meant to provide support and help, share advice, spread information, challenge stereotypes and fight discrimination. The aim of this paper is to explore the potential of TikTok as a platform for teaching about the LGBTQ+ community, promoting positive attitudes about it and creating a safe online space for free expression of LGBTQ+ people. This paper includes definitions of LGBTQ+ terms and explanations of LGBTQ+ identity development. Current relevant research on the ways in which LGBTQ+ people use social media platforms is presented, and part of the work focuses more closely on TikTok. TikTok’s potential in creating an inclusive space is qualitatively researched using the method of digital ethnography, while the results are analysed through thematic analysis. The analysis presents four main topics that LGBTQ+ users of TikTok address the most: fight against discrimination, process of coming out, identity development and community support. The results show that TikTok provides the freedom to express your own opinion and identity and serves as a space of inclusivity for the LGBTQ+ community, but the ways in which these findings are to be applied outside of the digital sphere open the door for new research.

• Keywords: TikTok; LGBTQ+ zajednica; društvene mreže; inkluzivnost
• Keywords (english): TikTok; LGBTQ+ community; social media; inclusivity
• Language: croatian
• URN:NBN: urn:nbn:hr:131:447777
• Study programme: Title: Pedagogy (double major); Study programme type: university; Study level: graduate; Academic / professional title: magistar/magistra pedagogije (magistar/magistra pedagogije)
• Type of resource: Text
• File origin: Born digital
• Access conditions: Open access
• Created on: 2023-09-25 13:51:05