| dc.description.abstract | In recent years, the in popularity rising video-sharing app TikTok has gained negative media attention because their algorithm actively contributes to the suppression of queer content and the platform is also known to aid in global polarisation, especially by forming right-wing bubbles. This work aims to fill the research gap on the influence of the For You Page algorithm on the experiences of queer people and the formation of filter bubbles and echo chambers.
A threefold research design has been performed to effectively research this, consisting of (1) an autoethnography to explore the experiences of queer people, (2) a video analysis to get an insight into the content on queer TikTok, and (3) 7 semi-structured interviews with other queer people to validate the findings from the previous methods.
The video analysis, which consisted of videos from a trained For You Page and popular videos from queer hashtags, revealed a diverse spectrum of queer content on TikTok, based on which ten content categories were defined. Popular videos focused on pop culture, humour, and personal stories, while the For You Page included more educational and political videos, which showed how the algorithm fine-tunes content based on preferences. The autoethnography and interviews revealed that queer people are always trying to create a queer-positive feed, with strategies including liking videos, blocking creators and using the “not interested” button.
Furthermore, every queer person in this study encountered queerphobic content on their For You Page, often through stitches. Despite efforts to shape a positive online environment, the persistent presence of queerphobic material impacted users’ well-being, showing the limitations of algorithms in creating com- pletely safe spaces. The autoethnography and interviews also highlighted how TikTok’s algorithm significantly contributes to the formation of filter bubbles by predominantly surfacing content that aligns with users’ established beliefs and interests, fostering polarisation regarding queer rights.
Based on the findings, three design guidelines are proposed to form action- able strategies to reduce the negative impacts of filter bubbles, echo chambers, and queerphobic content. This study calls for more future work to find out how echo chambers are formed on queer TikTok and how effective they are. | |
