The annual review on LGBTQ safety, privacy and expression on social media platforms has advocates alarmed…
GLAAD, the world’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) media advocacy organization, is handing out ratings to the six big social media platforms. And let’s just say it’s not worthy of being placed on the fridge.
Since 2021, GLAAD has been publishing its Social Media Safety Index (SMSI) and Platform Scorecard, a report on LGBTQ safety, privacy and expression on social platforms. In a press release, the organization described this year’s ratings as “critically low” with TikTok receiving the highest grade of 56/100. The lowest rated platform was X with 30/100, while Meta’s brands and YouTube received ratings in the low-to-mid 40s.
“All companies are failing to meet basic standards across most safety metrics on the SMSI scorecard,” the organization stated in a press release.
One of the biggest reasons platforms received below 50, was due to the revision of policies regarding hate speech. GLAAD specifically mentioned YouTube and Meta for its rollback on its hate speech policies allowing for harmful and threatening content on its platforms.
It called out YouTube’s removal of gender identity as “a protected characteristic” and how Meta now allows statements suggesting LGBTQ people are “abnormal” and “mentally ill.” This anti-LGBTQ rhetoric and disinformation “has been shown to lead to offline harms,” according to a key finding in the report.
It also highlighted how platforms are disproportionately suppressing LGBTQ content by frequently overmoderating “legitamite LGBTQ expressions.” This has led to content removal, shadowbanning, mislabelling posts as “adult” or “explicit” and even the taking down of accounts.
This issue was specifically mentioned in the analysis of TikTok. GLAAD suggested the brand “show greater transparency around the wrongful removal and demonetization of LGBTQ-related content and accounts, and clearly explain the steps it takes to address such actions.”
TikTok was praised for providing “the most comprehensive protections for LGBTQ people” in its hate and harassment policies as well as being only one of two platforms (the other being X) that “prohibits both targeted misgendering and deadnaming.”
The Scorecard also introduced a new content indicator around conversion therapy. While most have guidelines prohibiting this, the report specifically questions the policies of Meta, YouTube and X.
In regards to Meta, GLAAD gave it credit for its approach as users cannot explicitly offer a service to change one’s sexual orientation or gender identity on its platforms. However, it noted a caveat in which Meta states that it “require(s) additional information and/or context to enforce,” suggesting latent content promoting conversion therapy may not be removed.
YouTube prohibits the promotion of “gay conversion therapy” content for advertisers, but GLAAD noted that it, along with X, do not provide clear policies on the matter for user content.
While the 2025 ratings are alarming, GLAAD shared five key recommendations for improvement. These include strengthening and enforcing (or restoring) existing policies protecting LGBTQ people from hate; improving moderation and to use AI systems to flag content for human review versus automated removals; working with independent researchers to provide meaningful transparency around guidelines and moderation; respect data privacy; and promote and incentivize civil discourse.
You can view the full report on GLAAD’s website.
POST A COMMENT