Filtered Perceptions: LGBTQ+ relationship posts and peer interpretation
Start Date
April 2026
Location
2nd floor - Library
Abstract
As social media continues to integrate into college students’ daily lives, understanding its influence on comfort in expressing personal identities becomes increasingly relevant. Some evidence highlights the role of online platforms in fostering community, connection, and self-expression among LGBTQ+ users (Berger et al., 2022); however, other findings suggest these same spaces may reinforce conformity and increase fear of social judgment (Dennison et al., 2023). The present study examines how Instagram posts featuring romantic partners influence college students’ perceptions of their peers. Participants (N = 135) were recruited from Xavier University’s psychology participant pool and randomly assigned to view Instagram profiles that varied by profile owner gender (male vs. female) and partner gender (male, female, non-binary). After viewing profiles, participants completed measures of similarity, likability, interpersonal qualities, and engagement likelihood. A 2 x 3 ANOVA on the Interpersonal Qualities Scale was significant, F(2,135) = 3.20, p = .044, with gay targets scoring more positively than queer (other) targets (p =.034). The “resembles a friend” item was also significant, F(2,135) = 3.51, p = .033, with gay targets more likely to be seen as similar to existing friends. The “would make a good friend” item was marginally significant, F(2,135) = 2.99, p =.054, suggesting queer other targets were slightly more likely to make a good friend. Overall, findings suggest that LGBTQ+ identity presentation on social media can shape peer perceptions in subtle ways, highlighting ongoing biases and the importance of promoting more inclusive online environments.
Filtered Perceptions: LGBTQ+ relationship posts and peer interpretation
2nd floor - Library
As social media continues to integrate into college students’ daily lives, understanding its influence on comfort in expressing personal identities becomes increasingly relevant. Some evidence highlights the role of online platforms in fostering community, connection, and self-expression among LGBTQ+ users (Berger et al., 2022); however, other findings suggest these same spaces may reinforce conformity and increase fear of social judgment (Dennison et al., 2023). The present study examines how Instagram posts featuring romantic partners influence college students’ perceptions of their peers. Participants (N = 135) were recruited from Xavier University’s psychology participant pool and randomly assigned to view Instagram profiles that varied by profile owner gender (male vs. female) and partner gender (male, female, non-binary). After viewing profiles, participants completed measures of similarity, likability, interpersonal qualities, and engagement likelihood. A 2 x 3 ANOVA on the Interpersonal Qualities Scale was significant, F(2,135) = 3.20, p = .044, with gay targets scoring more positively than queer (other) targets (p =.034). The “resembles a friend” item was also significant, F(2,135) = 3.51, p = .033, with gay targets more likely to be seen as similar to existing friends. The “would make a good friend” item was marginally significant, F(2,135) = 2.99, p =.054, suggesting queer other targets were slightly more likely to make a good friend. Overall, findings suggest that LGBTQ+ identity presentation on social media can shape peer perceptions in subtle ways, highlighting ongoing biases and the importance of promoting more inclusive online environments.
