Recent awareness concerning the impact of the Internet on young people arose from a specific concern for gay and lesbian youths' emotional well-being. With over 75% of Australians under the age of 18 years old accessing the Internet in 1999, and similar figures around the world. It is clear that the Internet is quickly becoming an easy method for young people to gain information, search for resources and make friends.

Gay and lesbian youths who go on-line are essentially searching for a sense of community, a way to overcome isolation, and lack of friends who are also same sex attracted. Many young people report feelings of unknown identity and not knowing there are others out there who are also gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender.

Young people, between the ages of 15 and 24 are attempting to find their identity and develop social intimacy with other young people. For heterosexual youths, it is during this period of their lives that society nurtures and fosters their feelings and identities, and acknowledges and validates their relationships.

For young gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender youth this is not the case. They lack the resources and encouragement that are available to their heterosexual peers. Thus much of their knowledge of other young gay people, information about safe sex, and identity comes from the Internet, and other media.

The Internet is a place where they can remain anonymous, learn about these issues and "virtually" rehearse for coming out in real life. They also have the chance to meet other young gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender youths to make contact and support each other in coming out.

Statistics

La Trobe University in Melbourne, Australia has recently conducted a study on same sex attracted young people and the Internet. This is the first of its kind in Australia and provides information as to why young people are turning to the Internet for support.

The study, which further develops issues raised in previous studies, illustrates that young gay and lesbians are denied the vital resources necessary for social and personal development as a young person. In fact, 86% of the gay and lesbian youths surveyed used the Internet for sexuality related leisure and information gathering. Two thirds of those surveyed believed the Internet was very important to them in accessing sexual health information.

Importantly 70% of participants maintained that the Internet aided them in feeling less isolated and a further 85% felt it connected them to other young gay people and resources to help them address isolation and loneliness. The Internet offered these young people a sense of community and support, which is crucial when considering that 50% of these young people had felt at some time depressed or suicidal.

Due to the difficulties many gay and lesbian youths experience whilst coming out or attempting to come out, it is significant to note that 90% of them chose to openly tell someone on the Internet of their sexual orientation, as compared to real life where the same group of people are less inclined to do so.

"The net clearly provides an important 'rehearsal space' for coming out in real life."

Many young people communicated a feeling that the Internet was more diverse and people were more experienced and open minded and less judgemental than in 'real life.' 75% of those surveyed had met someone from the Internet, with more males proportionally doing so.

85% of the young people in the study reported that the Internet had put them in touch with other same sex attracted young people. As isolation from other gay and lesbian youths has been identified as one of the major risk factors for suicide (Paul Gibson, L.I.C.S.W), the Internet has therefore a crucial role to play in putting gay and lesbian youths in touch with one another.

Young people have their say

"I met a lot of guys in chatrooms on the Net, and most of them told me that your friends, unless they are rednecks, are really happy and accept you when you come out to them" Alex

"I have met 2 boyfriends through the Net and have made many gay friends that I would not have met without the Internet." Angus

"It has certainly given me networks to base myself around. Without the Internet, I don't know what I would have done, other than feel pretty damn alone." Kenton

"The Internet has been a valuable resource�to relieve the general cognitive dissonance I felt toward my sexuality. It was comforting to have the Internet as a tool to decrease isolation and, in turn, depression." Nat

"It is helpful to not have to actually ask someone and say out the words which are often hot topics (e.g. AIDS, STI'S etc). Finding a website with reliable information usually isn't that hard and you can usually be more confident using this information than relying on second hand information from someone you know." Jim

"It has liberated me! When we got the Net at home, I could look up the ever so elusive words such as 'lesbian,' 'gay' and 'homosexual' and gain lots of information. It was my escape, my saviour. I learnt what I was feeling was both OK and it had a name, other people and a special place. I had previously thought what I was feeling was the same as everyone else, until I got to high school. The Net gave me the education that my family, school and friends couldn't." Dana

"I access the internet because my family is Greek Orthodox and would never understand why I am a lesbian. So I talk to people on the Internet that my family wouldn't know. I have meet a few and have even had relationships with them in real life for a few months." Angela

Where to go online
Fridae Resources - Help, advice, support. A directory of people who understand your problems, and can help you, right where you are.

Mogenic.com - A website specifically for young people to meet with news, stories, reviews, chatroom and other great features.

Reachout.com - An Australian website for young people with information and links
for help.

Youthresource.com - A website created by and for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (GLBTQ) young people 13 to 24 years old.

Youth.org - A service run by volunteers, created to help self-identifying gay, lesbian, bisexual and questioning youth.

Outproud.org - The National Coalition for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual & Transgender Youth.