The idea that one's identity is tied to what others think about them has been explored extensively by psychologists and sociologists since the 1960s.
It was only recently that these theories were applied to LGBTQIA+ individuals and communities. This essay examines the impact of digital platforms on queer youth recognition dependency in relation to their own identities. It also looks at how these factors can lead to identity fragmentation, and ways in which this phenomenon could be addressed through alternative models of recognition outside of visibility economies.
There are two main reasons why recognition is important for individuals: self-esteem maintenance and affiliation. Self-esteem refers to an individual's general sense of worthiness and value, while affiliation relates to belongingness within a group. According to social psychologist Albert Bandura, people tend to form impressions based on how they perceive themselves and how others view them. When someone experiences positive feedback from others, their self-esteem increases, leading to feelings of being accepted, valued, and competent. Conversely, when they receive negative feedback, their self-esteem decreases, resulting in feeling rejected, unworthy, and incompetent. In other words, recognition plays a crucial role in shaping our perception of ourselves and our relationships with others.
Many studies have shown that visibility is necessary for the well-being of minority groups.
In the context of gender identity development, researchers found that individuals who experienced rejection and invalidation from their families were more likely to suffer from depression and anxiety than those who received acceptance and validation. Similarly, a study conducted by Bauman et al. (2018) showed that LGBTQIA+ individuals who experienced discrimination had higher levels of internalized homophobia, lower levels of mental health, and higher rates of substance abuse compared to those who did not experience discrimination.
Digital platforms present new challenges for queer youth due to the way they operate. Social media algorithms rely on user engagement metrics to determine which content should be prioritized and presented to users. This leads to what is commonly referred to as "feedback loops" where users are encouraged to post content that will generate likes, comments, shares or retweets. As a result, there is an emphasis on attention-grabbing content rather than meaningful interactions. This can lead to feelings of insecurity and pressure among young people who may feel that they need to conform to certain standards of beauty or behavior in order to gain recognition.
This recognition dependency creates an environment where identity fragmentation occurs, causing individuals to develop multiple identities depending on whom they interact with or what platform they use.
To address these issues, alternative models of recognition outside of visibility economies could be explored. One such model is based on the idea of self-validation, which involves recognizing oneself without relying on external sources. Self-validation requires introspection, reflection, and critical thinking about one's own experiences and beliefs. It also involves developing a sense of agency and control over one's life trajectory rather than relying on others to validate one's choices. Another approach is based on community building through peer-to-peer support groups or affinity spaces where members share their experiences and learn from each other.
The relationship between recognition dependency in queer youth, social media feedback loops, neuro‑development, identity fragmentation and platform design has significant implications for identity formation and well-being. Alternative models of recognition outside of visibility economies offer promising solutions for addressing these challenges by empowering individuals to recognize themselves independently and build supportive communities.