Our generation is revolutionary. Social media outlets like Instagram, Twitter, or even Facebook, have been used to help individuals overcome their personal identity. These social media outlets can help those who feel alone, not so alone. Everyone and anyone can find people like themselves on the wide and vast internet. Youtube is mostly used for this outlet of finding ones true self, or using it to even “come out”.

In one article by Bryan Wuest, titled “Queer Youth and Media Cultures,” discussions of sexual or gender identity are developed by explaining the multi-purposeful social media applications. There are two ways queer youth use Youtube videos for identity development and overcoming certain obstacles:

1. Youtube videos are produced by queer adults who share stories of bullying, homophobia, and the basic survival of high school. By producing a coming out story, it can inspire others to come out as well to the public in order to feel totally comfortable with themselves. If there is a vlogging process, Wuest explains, then it can be especially helpful and engaging to those who are exploring and are understanding their identity more and more to want to come out. It’s more realistic.
2. Message boards on Youtube are also especially helpful because sometimes, the actual video can’t be hours and hours long. It can be traumatising to speak out about ones experience with their personal identity. By using message boards, people are able to fully tell their story for others to become more comfortable to come out, and to as well find a support system.