“Nothing that I was specifically looking for”: LGBTQ + youth and intentional sexual health information seeking

Abstract

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, and non-cisgender or non-heterosexual (LGBTQ+) youth (ages 15 to 25) in the United States often struggle to access relevant and comprehensive sexual health information. LGBTQ + youth rely on the internet, particularly social media, as an information resource. We interviewed 17 LGBTQ + youth about their online sexual health information seeking experiences to understand the specific role of social media in meeting their sexual health information needs. We present two main findings: 1. LGBTQ + youth occupy existing online spaces unrelated to sexual health in explicit ways but they are exposed to relevant sexual health topics and inspired to undertake more intentional online sexual health information seeking; 2. Social media facilitates the sharing of lived experiences in the context of sexual health information seeking which makes it a desirable resource for LGBTQ + youth. We discuss implications for these findings in the development of sexual health information resources inclusive of LGBTQ + youth and their experiences.