13 | Identicons

I play games that have built-in communities there. I also, like, I don't know if this counts as social media but I do it too much — a lot. So, like, I stream on Twitch, and I talk with people in there.

So on Twitch, or in gaming communities that are built-in, do you find yourself interacting particularly with other LGBT+ people?

Yeah, in those cases, like if I have an option on multiple streams to watch, I will go to the queer one. Definitely.

How would you describe the communities in those spaces, broadly speaking?

Um, pretty inclusive. A lot of people are trying to help others by streaming or help themselves. So it's, like, a very... I find it to be pretty supportive.

I tend to stream games like League and Puzzle Pirates. It's kind of, like, a more chill game. And then I watch other people do, like, sometimes there's mental health awareness streams. But, like, I generally watch games.

Have you ever had any interaction or witnessed any interaction on social media between LGBT+ people that made you feel uncomfortable or unsafe in any way?

Um, I think I tend to curate my feed pretty well. So, not really, no.

I ask my friends what they're following. Like, I never really choose random things unless I knew about it somewhat previously. I unfollow things pretty quickly.

If they, like, tried to be biased against a certain group of people, like if they try to generalize things in a negative way. Wouldn't want that. Or, like, fat-shaming, or... I think those are the top two. Yeah.

Have you ever met someone who was at one point an 'Internet friend'?

Um, one on purpose. I felt pretty safe because I had played with this person for, like, over eight years at that point, and we started when we were young, and they just lived in the area.

Are there any particular platforms or experiences online that you would describe for yourself as formative, or that have changed a lot about how you think of yourself, identity-wise?

Hm. Well, I guess I do that through my games, kind of. Like I started streaming, because I played games, and I connected with a lot of people once I started streaming. And I'd say that's helped me improve my social skills and also learn how to be, like, more comfortable talking to random people.