Abstract
Bisexual men operate within a paradox of social stereotypes and public invisibility. Despite the prevalence of bi-erasure and the difficulties surrounding bisexual visualization, men’s bisexuality (at least as a term) has a strong digital presence on Instagram. Using visual content analysis of Instagram photos tagged with #biguy(s) and/or #biboy(s), this study investigates the discursive production of bisexual men on the platform and describes its entanglements with homonormative visual culture. Contrary to previous ethnographic research, the results of this study indicate that men’s bisexual display on Instagram do not use traditional bi symbols. Additionally, acts of bi visibility often conflate themselves with homonormative visual culture through the use of gay-affiliated hashtags and a visual focus on men’s bodies. However, these findings also suggest that homonormative visual culture on Instagram does not closely align with past literature on the topic. Implications for the study of bisexual visual identities in the era of image-based social media are also discussed.
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