An exploratory study on prejudice based on gender identity or sexual orientation perceived by users in social networks

Abstract

Although research in HCI has been increasingly covering gender and sexuality, the experience of lesbian, bisexual, gay, and transgender (LGBT) people is still underexplored. We aimed to inquiry whether digital systems user interfaces reproduce or not oppressions based on gender identity or sexual orientation. By conducting a survey, we gathered some oppressive situations that LGBT people have faced online. Our results suggest that not only the user interfaces reproduce such prejudice, but that the LGBT community perceives it in the social network interfaces and content there posted. Also, current tools fail fighting and preventing oppressions, which impacts the decision of using a network and users’ comfort.