ABSTRACT
This study examines queer individuals’ social media practices through the lens of digital intimacy (Berlant, 1998; Cefai & Couldry, 2019), networked publics (Boyd, 2014), queer self-presentation (Butler, 1990; Marwick & boyd, 2011), and privacy and visibility discourse (Light et al., 2008; Carrasco & Kerne, 2018). The research aims to mitigate the gap in scholarship caused by a predominant focus on Western experiences by addressing the perceptions and experiences of young Indian queer individuals concerning online intimacy through social media platforms. Through qualitative interviews, the findings indicate that participants navigate online intimacy through a combination of impression management techniques and complex representations of their queer identities. These results underscore how digital intimate publics serve as a framework to understand social media as spaces for close relationships that challenge heteronormative imaginaries. Extending Berlant’s (1998) concept of intimacy to encompass societal forces, this project highlights the influence of social media practices on individuals’ identities and networks. However, it notes the pressure to conform to norms online, leading to the use of audience management strategies and self-censorship. By converging technological and sociological approaches, this exploratory study therefore asks:
How do young Indian individuals marginalised along gender identity and/or sexual orientation perceive and navigate online intimacy via social media platforms?
