The interaction dynamics among LGBTQIA+ individuals, from a political perspective involving debates, activism, and knowledge dissemination, to the establishment of emotional bonds and community, occur through the internet. While these online spaces facilitate discussion, idea exchange, forms of support, and the expression of sexual and gender diversity, they also introduce new concerns, such as the security level of these spaces, the handling of data related to politically marginalized populations, the nature of relationships and interactions online, and how platform design corresponds to the intricacies of the LGBTQIA+ population.

Based on these concerns, InternetLab, in partnership with Lux Ferreira, a trans activist with a PhD in Social Anthropology from the University of São Paulo, initiated a research project in 2022 on sociability, intimacy, and safety in virtual environments among LBT women and non-binary individuals, using a case study approach focusing on the Ella Global Community platform.

The research was conceptualized due to a gap in the literature concerning social networks, applications, LBT women, and non-binary individuals—a gap that is significant when compared to the extensive academic production dedicated to understanding the use of such technologies by gay and bisexual men. The primary intention of the research is to map the processes and mechanisms of interaction, relationships, and engagement among platform users, as well as the limits and possibilities presented by the platform.

The applied methodology is netnography (ethnography focused on experiences and interactions on the internet), encompassing the Ella Global Community website, Ella Instagram pages, and the ELLA application. This ethnography will be complemented by the study of documents such as terms of use, legal notes, community guidelines, group and event policies, privacy policies, and cookie policies, among others related to the application. This primarily aims to evaluate the data security and protection offered by the platform and its content moderation dynamics.

The project’s purpose is to contribute to the academic discourse on the sociability of LBT women and non-binary individuals on the internet, fill certain gaps, and recommend best practices regarding the provision of safe online environments relevant to queer women and non-binary individuals. This will involve dialogue with activists, experts, and content creators.

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Publications to date:

Project Presentation: “Connecting, Making Visible, and Challenging: A Virtual Space for Queer Women and Non-Binary Individuals”