Technology Hurts? Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Youth Perspectives of Technology and Cyberbullying

Abstract

The present qualitative study explored the perceptions of this group of adolescents regarding what technology they use, what they view as constructive uses of technology, and their perceptions of cyberbullying and cybervictimization. A total of 18 lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) adolescents participated in semistructured interviews. Many of the participants indicated that they use texting and social networking forms of technology, while few reported engaging with gaming technology. Results indicated technology provided support for this sample of LGB youth who might otherwise feel more isolated and/or depressed in relation to their heterosexually identified peers. In addition, this sample reported sexual orientation and revenge as reasons why students were targets of cyberbullying. These findings were consistent with prior research with non-LGB samples. Grounded in moral disengagement theory, the findings and implications of this study were interpreted within the context of prior research on technology use as well as the literature on bullying and cyberbullying.

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