Is the LGBTQ Community Still Using Facebook?

Months after Facebook users were incensed when a political consulting firm gained access to their data, has the LGBTQ community decided to quit Facebook?

Since it was revealed that Cambridge Analytica gained access to millions of Facebook users’ data, there has been wide discussion about whether we ought to change our habits when it comes to sharing information using the service.

In case too much fake news has gone by since then, here’s a quick recap: Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and his company faced criticism after Cambridge Analytica gained access as many as 87 million Facebook users’ data. Ultimately, Zuckerberg was called to testify at a joint hearing of the Senate Judiciary and Commerce committees. He also testified before the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

It was ultimately revealed that, though it was not made public until March of 2018, Facebook knew about the data breach as far back in 2015. They simple did not admit to it until The Guardian and The New York Times leaked the story three years later.

In the wake of the scandal, polls have revealed some interesting numbers regarding how much LGBTQ people trust Facebook. Of the survey respondents that identified as gay or lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer or gender fluid, here are the statistics of those who say they do not trust Facebook:

• Gay or Lesbian: 52.5%
• Bisexual: 61%
• Transgender: 87.5%
• Queer or Gender Fluid: 66.7%

However, the same poll also revealed this seemingly contradictory data. Here are the statistics of those who say they like (and will presumably continue to use) Facebook:

• Gay or Lesbian: 70%
• Bisexual: 70.7%
• Transgender: 25%
• Queer or Gender Fluid: 83.3%

Why the contradiction? Why would the LGBTQ community by and large continue to use and even like a service they predominantly do not trust? It may be as simple as the fact that, whether or not we trust Facebook to use our data responsibly, we consider that vulnerability an acceptable price to pay for the connectivity that the social platform provides.

On the other hand, we also have to give a shout out to trans people, who seem to be more consistent – statistically speaking – in terms of both distrusting and disliking Facebook.

This polling is courtesy the market research firm Propeller Insights and the boutique tech PR firm Bospar insights.

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