This story originally appeared on Them.
Apparently, the damn phones really are paying attention to everything, including the innermost thoughts you have yet to unpack yourself. A new study found that the TikTok algorithm might know you’re queer before you even come to that realization yourself.
Recently published in the Gender, Place, & Culture, an academic journal of feminist geography, the study was the result of 20 in-depth interviews with LGBTQ+ residents in two Australian metropolitan centers about the way they connect with other queer people, particularly in “hybrid spaces” which include both online and offline activity. The subjects, who ranged in age from 18 to 60, told researchers that in order to explore their identities online without fear of being outed or harassed, they relied on privacy settings, using multiple accounts on the same platform, and lurking without posting.
Multiple interview subjects said that as they engaged with online apps like TikTok, which suggest videos based on engagement — which can include liking a post, following a creator, or even lingering on a video longer than usual — they felt the algorithm quickly tried to categorize their identity, including their gender or sexuality.
“Several participants told us the algorithm ‘knew’ they were queer before they did,” lead author Dr. Justin Ellis, part of the University of Newcastle’s School of Law and Justice, told University News.
For example, a 25-year-old lesbian from Newcastle described using a profile without her name or any identifying characteristics to passively scroll and consume content, which ultimately helped her explore her identity. Particularly as global attitudes towards LGBTQ+ people shift, and in some countries have become more punitive, that privacy has acted as an additional safety measure for some interviewees.
“Because being anonymous on the internet is really helpful and was really helpful for me when I first was figuring out if I was queer or not, and then I think, getting to that point where I felt comfortable with who I was,” one participant told researchers.
Though some participants described these platforms as a safe space to explore their identities in private, others said they felt alarmed by the seeming online tracking and categorization of their behavior, citing concerns about data privacy. Because many social media apps like TikTok and YouTube recommend content based not just on interest but also based on location, some interviewees expressed concern about identities they were not yet ready to share possibly becoming visible online.
“Algorithmic outing shows how deeply digital systems are embedded in everyday life,” Ellis told University News. “If platforms are going to identify who their users are, they also need to take responsibility for how — and where — that identity becomes visible to ensure community safety.”
Although the data concerns raised flags for some participants, others saw the algorithmic specificity as a positive. Some said it helped them find LGBTQ+ community spaces in their area, allowing them to build deeper connections with queer and trans people.
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