Emerging Trends in LGBTQ+ Media and Youth Culture

Demographic Shifts

Growth of LGBTQ+ identification

  • United States: Gallup’s 2024 survey finds that 9.3 % of U.S. adults identify as LGBTQ+, nearly doubling from 4.5 % in 2012. Generational differences are dramatic: more than one in five U.S. Gen Z adults (22.7 %) identify as LGBTQ+. This generational effect drives growth; identification among Millennials rose to 12 %, while Baby Boomers remain at 3 %. Women are more likely than men to identify as LGBTQ (10 % vs. 6 %), and among Gen Z the gender gap is striking (31 % of women vs. 12 % of men). (1)

  • Canada: Canada’s 2023 2SLGBTQI+ facts and stats report notes that about 1.3 million Canadians aged ≥15 years (4.4 % of the population) identify as 2SLGBTQ+. Youth are over‑represented: 10.5 % of those aged 15–24 identify as 2SLGBTQ+. The report highlights persistent inequality – 77 % of sexually and gender‑diverse youth had been targets of bullying the previous year and mental‑health challenges and homelessness are more common among 2SLGBTQ+ young people. (2)

  • Other English‑speaking countries: The Ipsos LGBT+ Pride 2024 survey across 26 countries found that 17 % of Gen Zers identify as LGBT+, compared with 11 % of Millennials and just 6 % of Gen X. Gen Z women are generally more supportive of LGBT rights than Gen Z men; for example, 78 % of Gen Z women vs. 63 % of Gen Z men agree transgender people should be protected from discrimination in housing, employment and services. (3)

Representation and Trends in Media

Mainstream film and television

  • Declining inclusion in theatrical films: GLAAD’s 2025 Studio Responsibility Index notes that only 23.6 % of 2024 major‑studio films were LGBTQ‑inclusive, down from 27.3 % in the previous year and 28.5 % in 2022. While the raw number of LGBTQ characters increased slightly, many appeared briefly; 37 % of all LGBTQ characters received under one minute of screen time. Only two films included transgender characters, and one cast a cisgender actor in the role, illustrating a shortage of trans stories. (4)

  • Streaming platforms: GLAAD counted 327 LGBTQ characters across scripted streaming series during the 2023‑24 season. The characters were fairly balanced by gender (46 % men, 48 % women, 6 % nonbinary), but representation of lesbians and gay men decreased. Transgender characters accounted for 5.8 % of streaming LGBTQ characters and 50 % of the characters were people of color. However, 36 % of these characters will not return because many series ended. (5)

  • Impact of strikes and politics: The Writers Guild of America (WGA) and Screen Actors Guild (SAG‑AFTRA) strikes delayed numerous projects, contributing to fewer LGBTQ titles. (6) At the same time, GLAAD’s Accelerating Acceptance 2025 report documented a surge in anti‑LGBTQ legislation and violent incidents; the group’s ALERT Desk recorded at least 932 anti‑LGBTQ incidents in 2024 (protests, harassment and violence). Two‑thirds of LGBTQ adults expect discrimination and violence to rise next year. (7)

Media as a vehicle for familiarity and allyship

  • According to the Accelerating Acceptance 2025 study, 78 % of non‑LGBTQ Americans believe everyone deserves representation in media, such as movies, TV shows or games. Exposure works: when non‑LGBTQ adults see LGBTQ people in media, their familiarity with the community rises by up to 34 % and their comfort interacting with LGBTQ people increases by up to 23 %. GLAAD emphasizes that the majority of Americans share the same core values as LGBTQ people and oppose bullying. (8)

  • The Ipsos Pride report similarly finds generational differences in attitudes toward representation: 43 % of Gen Z respondents support seeing more LGBT characters in TV/film/advertising, versus only 27 % of Baby Boomers. Support for brands promoting LGBT equality has dipped slightly since 2021 (44 % average across 23 countries). (9)

Emerging content and platforms

  • Niche streaming and gaming: Queer‑focused streaming services (e.g., Revry, WOW Presents Plus) and increasing queer visibility in video games and anime are filling gaps left by mainstream media. GLAAD’s 2025 report notes that audiences are “eager and hungry” for LGBTQ stories, yet big studios are not meeting demand. (10)

  • Social media as a stage: Platforms like TikTok, YouTube and Instagram enable LGBTQ youth to create and share their own narratives. Data .ai found that typical TikTok users worldwide spent almost 35 hours per month on the platform in November 2024, nearly 8 hours more than the time users spent on YouTube. The average user opened the TikTok app 360 times per month (about 12 times per day) and spent roughly six minutes per session. This intense engagement gives LGBTQ creators direct access to audiences without network gatekeepers.

Youth Media Habits and Digital Culture

Device access and time online

  • Device saturation: U.S. data from ACT for Youth show that 95 % of adolescents aged 13–17 have smartphones and 90 % have a desktop or laptop computer. Access is more limited in low‑income households—72 % of low‑income adolescents have computer access versus 94 % of high‑income adolescents. (11)

  • Constant connectivity: Almost all teenagers (96 %) use the internet daily, and 46 % report being online “almost constantly”. Older teens (15‑17) are more likely than younger teens to be online constantly (50 % vs. 40 %). Smartphone dependence is intense; half of adolescents aged 11–17 use their phones more than 4.5 hours per day and pick them up a median 51 times per day, with 44 % of 16‑17‑year‑olds picking up their phone over 100 times daily. Social media apps account for 42 % of daily smartphone use, followed by YouTube (19 %) and mobile games (11 %). (12)

  • Leading platforms: Pew Research Center’s 2024 survey found that YouTube remains nearly universal (90 % of U.S. teens), while about six in ten teens use TikTok and Instagram, and 55 % use Snapchat. Teen Facebook and X/Twitter use have declined dramatically—only 32 % of teens use Facebook (down from 71 % in 2014‑15) and 17 % use X. Daily usage favors YouTube (73 % of teens use it every day), TikTok (roughly 60 % daily), and Snapchat/Instagram (about half of teens). (13)

  • Social media fatigue: A 2025 YPulse survey of 1,500 youth (ages 13–39) in the U.S. and Canada reports that young people spend over four hours per day on social media and increasingly feel social‑media fatigue and addiction. The same survey notes that youth remain active because algorithms tailor content precisely to their interests, and many consider themselves content creators. (14)

Inequities and risks

  • Online harassment: The Cyberbullying Research Center reported that 23 % of U.S. teens experienced cyberbullying in the previous month (up from 16 % in 2016). Transgender teens are particularly vulnerable—35 % report being bullied online, compared with 24 % of girls and 22 % of boys. LGBTQ youth (32 %) are more likely than their non‑LGBTQ peers (22 %) to face online harassment and are also slightly more likely to bully others. (15)

  • Mental‑health consequences: ACT for Youth reports that 61 % of adolescents sometimes or often neglect daily obligations because of technology use, and 67 % lose sleep due to late‑night internet use. (16) Canadian data show that 2SLGBTQ+ homeless individuals report higher rates of mental‑health problems and cognitive limitations. (17) The Trevor Project’s 2024 U.S. mental‑health survey likewise underscores that LGBTQ youth experience disproportionate rates of anxiety, depression and suicide ideation. (18)

Digital intimacy and relationships

  • Relationships and sexting: Technology shapes teen relationships. A non‑representative Montana State University study cited by ACT for Youth found that 95 % of high‑school students report that technology influences their dating relationships, and 84 % say technology helps them bridge communication gaps. Sexting is common—nearly 15 % of youth have sent explicit images and 27 % have received them. Non‑consensual sexting or sextortion affects about one in eight youth, and LGBTQ teens (particularly boys) may be more vulnerable. (19)

Youth Values and Activism

Social issues that matter to Gen Z

Gen Z’s constant connectivity exposes them to diverse perspectives and fosters activism. The Annie E. Casey Foundation notes that exposure to global cultures contributes to Gen Z’s tendency toward open‑mindedness and advocacy for equality. In surveys, health‑care access, mental health, higher education, economic security, civic engagement, racial equity, the environment and gun violence emerge as eight top social issues for Gen Z. (20) This interest translates into activism through digital platforms (e.g., hashtags, petition drives) and offline participation in protests and voter mobilization.

Support for LGBTQ rights and visibility

  • Younger people are the most likely to support LGBTQ rights. Ipsos finds that 78 % of Gen Z women versus 63 % of Gen Z men support anti‑discrimination protections for transgender people. The survey also shows that Gen Z is more open to LGBTQ characters in media (43 % support increased representation) than older generations. (21) Such support drives demand for inclusive content and influences brand decisions during Pride campaigns.

  • Despite high support among youth, Ipsos notes that overall support for transgender athletes competing according to their gender identity has declined; across 23 countries only 27 % support this in 2024 (down from 32 % in 2021), suggesting backlash and polarization even among younger cohorts. (22)

Digital activism

LGBTQ and allied youth use platforms like TikTok, Instagram and Discord to organize, educate and challenge discrimination. Trending content includes educational explainers on gender identity, the “this is what nonbinary looks like” movement, and direct support networks for queer youth. Hashtag campaigns such as #ProtectTransKids and #DragIsArt mobilize activism and increase public awareness. These efforts illustrate how social media has become both a safe space and a battleground: it empowers youth to build community yet exposes them to bullying and misinformation.

Comparative Notes Across English‑speaking Countries

  • United States: Rapid growth in LGBTQ identification and youth‑driven activism coexist with increasing anti‑LGBTQ legislation and a political climate that many LGBTQ Americans expect will lead to more violence. (23) Media representation has grown on streaming platforms but declined in theatrical films. (24) U.S. youth are heavy users of TikTok and YouTube, and they spend significant time online; their activism often focuses on bodily autonomy, racial justice and queer rights.

  • Canada: Canada recognizes Two‑Spirit identities and collects data on 2SLGBTQ+ populations; 4.4 % of Canadians aged ≥15 identify as 2SLGBTQ+. (25) Despite high acceptance, bullying and mental‑health disparities persist. (26) The country’s media landscape includes CBC’s queer web series and Toronto’s 2SLGBTQI+ Youth Conference, demonstrating support for community stories. Social media patterns are similar to U.S. trends, with heavy use of TikTok and Instagram. (27)

  • United Kingdom, Australia & New Zealand: These countries (part of Ipsos’s 26‑country sample) show high identification among Gen Z and strong support for equality. In the U.K., Ofcom’s 2025 Children and Parents: Media Use and Attitudes report indicates rising use of social media among younger children and concerns about harmful content. (28) Australian youth mirror U.S. patterns in platform use, with TikTok dominating but concerns about a potential ban. New Zealand’s digital environment is similar, with the addition of indigenous Māori and Pasifika voices in queer media.

Emerging Themes

  1. Increasing Visibility and Growing Market: Younger generations are more likely to identify as LGBTQ and to demand media that reflects their experiences. (29) This demographic shift creates opportunities for content creators, brands and politicians but also generates backlash.

  2. Representation Gap: Although streaming platforms feature hundreds of LGBTQ characters, film representation has declined. Transgender and nonbinary characters remain rare, and screen time is often limited. (30) The need for authentic storytelling and casting is an ongoing challenge.

  3. Digital Immersion and Fatigue: Youth in the U.S., Canada and other English‑speaking countries are online almost constantly. They rely on smartphones for social connection, news and activism. However, heavy consumption leads to fatigue, lost sleep and mental‑health concerns. Social media also exposes LGBTQ youth to cyberbullying. (31)

  4. Polarization and Policy Battles: Rising anti‑LGBTQ legislation and misinformation contribute to fear and activism. Surveys show support for some rights (e.g., representation, anti‑discrimination) but declining support for others (e.g., transgender athletes). (32) This indicates polarization within and across generations.

  5. Intersectional Focus: Data highlight disparities across race, gender and income; LGBTQ youth of color and low‑income backgrounds often face higher bullying and less access to technology. (33) Media narratives and policies must address intersecting identities.

Emerging trends in LGBTQ+ media and youth culture reveal both progress and challenges. Identification with LGBTQ identities is growing, particularly among Gen Z in the United States, Canada and other English‑speaking countries. (34) Representation on streaming platforms has expanded, but theatrical films lag behind and trans and nonbinary characters remain scarce. (35) Youth are deeply immersed in digital media, spending hours each day on social platforms like YouTube, TikTok and Instagram. (36) While these platforms enable activism and self‑expression, they also expose LGBTQ youth to cyberbullying and mental‑health risks. (37)

Generational shifts and digital connectivity mean that LGBTQ issues will remain prominent in media and politics. Policymakers, educators and media creators should respond by promoting authentic representation, safeguarding young people online, and supporting inclusive policies. Understanding these trends helps anticipate where LGBTQ media and youth culture may head in coming years.