Digital anthropology is an emerging field that uses technology to study human behavior in a variety of contexts. It can be particularly useful for understanding how queer communities form and evolve online. The Internet has created new opportunities for people who identify as LGBTQ+ to connect with one another and find community, but it also presents challenges such as misinformation and harassment. Digital anthropologists can analyze these issues by observing patterns of communication between members of different groups and identifying trends over time.
They might track how terminology changes or how certain topics are discussed more frequently than others. By studying digital data from social media platforms like Reddit or Tumblr, researchers can gain insights into how queer individuals interact with each other across different platforms.
One way that digital anthropology can help trace the formation of queer online communities is by analyzing the language used in online forums and chat rooms. Researchers can look at terms such as "queer" or "transgender" and see how they have changed over time. They may notice shifts in meaning or usage depending on which subreddits or message boards they appear in.
Some users may use the term "non-binary" to describe their gender identity while others may prefer "trans*." These distinctions can provide insight into how queer individuals negotiate their identities in virtual spaces.
Digital anthropologists can examine posts from various years to understand how attitudes towards certain words have shifted over time. This can reveal cultural shifts within queer communities.
Digital anthropology can also help us understand why certain communities disperse and reform. Some factors include changes in technology (e.g., new apps replacing older ones), political events affecting visibility/safety (e.g., trans military ban), and personal circumstances (e.g., job loss). Anthropologists could compare historical instances when a community has dissolved due to these factors against current times to identify trends. Another factor contributing to this process is the rise of augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) technologies. AR allows users to experience physical environments virtually, potentially leading them away from existing online communities. Meanwhile, VR enables users to create avatars that represent themselves physically - which may lead people to form new communities based on those avatars rather than their real identities. It's unclear what impact these technologies will have on LGBTQ+ communities long-term, but they already present challenges for researchers studying them.
Digital anthropology offers unique insights into queer online communities through its ability to analyze data across multiple platforms and time periods.
There are still uncharted territories with respect to the evolution of postâ€'internet society and the use of virtual reality/augmented identity. The field needs further exploration to better understand how these developments impact queer individuals' lives.