Transgender visibility on Instagram

Abstract

Stimulated by the emergence of portable and accessible devices such as smartphones equipped with digital cameras, the contemporary subject accesses and creates content autonomously, motivated, at first, by the malleability and immediacy of these new technological devices. Since the old ways of creating media products prioritized only portraying traditionalist patterns and made the existence of transgender or transactivism invisible, an independent movement emerges, within social networks, which through images and texts, will legitimize the transgender presence in social life. This study aimed to provide an overview of the number of profiles that currently address such issues, within Instagram, and that are being produced for this specific audience. Through the use of Netnography, the research resulted in the observation of two personalities of relevance on the platform, and from this cut, it was found that the need to occupy these online spaces lies in the desire to inspire their followers to assume their identity. gender and fight for survival also outside the Internet.