Mkhize, SimangeleNunlall, ReemaGopal, Nirmala2021-04-152020Simangele Mkhize, Reema Nunlall & Nirmala Gopal (2020) An examination of social media as a platform for cyber-violence against the LGBT+ population, Agenda, 34:1, 23-33, DOI: 10.1080/10130950.2019.1704485.1013-0950 (print)2158-978X (online)10.1080/10130950.2019.1704485http://hdl.handle.net/2263/79461The popularity of social media raises concerns related to cyber-violence and the security of marginalised individuals and groups, including the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT+) population. Developing worthy interventions requires exploration of the LGBT+ population’s experiences of cyber-violence in relation to gender discrimination, which was the aim of this study. A qualitative approach sourced data between 2017 and 2019 from LGBT+ Facebook groups and pages and semi-structured interviews with participants who identified themselves as among the LGBT+ population. Keywords such as LGBT+, homosexuals, and isiZulu terms such as ‘izitabane’ and ‘inkonkoni’ were used to search for content. It was found that Facebook is used as a platform by heterosexuals to make violent and hateful comments against the LBGT+ population. Comments displayed to the public (including, for example, “gays are dogs, they can never transform to being women”) reflected heteronormative behaviour. A significant finding was the infiltration of heterosexual individuals into the space created by the LGBT+ population, suggesting an increased risk of cyber-violence, and that the right to privacy and security is often compromised. Addressing cyberbullying of the LGBT+ population through education on gender diversity is recommended.en© 2019 S. Mkhize, R. Nunlall and N. Gopal. This is an electronic version of an article published in Agenda, vol. 34, no. 1, pp. 23-33, 2020. doi : 10.1080/10130950.2019.1704485. Agenda is available online at : http://www.tandfonline.comloi/ragn20.Cyber-violenceCyberbullyingFacebookHomosexualityHeterosexualityLesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and other sexualities’ (LGBT+)Postprint Article