Coming-out videos are gaining increasing popularity in modern media culture. Ridder and Dhaenens (2019) explore this phenomenon by demonstrating how media nurtures engagement in such content and encourages youth to express their identity in their sensitive and emotional moments. Moreover, the article underlines how the values of symbolic capital appeal to young people’s realization in the framework of sexual hierarchies. It is interesting to examine different arguments proposed by the authors of the paper.
First of all, Ridder and Dhaenens (2019) state that one should be careful about the popularity and virality of videos on YouTube containing coming out stories. It should be recognized that such reports are actively promoted and circulated to increase representativeness and visibility. In this sense, a particular paradox is noticeable that young people can exploit such content for not sincere purposes in the pursuit of popularity and reach. Indeed, the dramatization and mainstreamness of the topic of queer and gay communities do not always reflect reality, although it is intended to inspire people to normalize their identity.
Nevertheless, as the paper rightfully underlines, this does not mean that coming out stories should not be on YouTube. Ridder and Dhaenens (2019) claim, “Asking the question than if it would not be better for queer youth not to share coming-out stories on YouTube, is asking the wrong question.” In fact, the ethical concern can be resolved when sharing coming-out content beyond one media platform, and notably in various ways. This would still increase the visibility of the topic without making it over-dramatized, and consequently, commercialized.
Overall, the topic raised by Ridder and Dhaenens represents a complex ethical issue. The problem is that media platforms can use sensitive and vulnerable topics to entertain publicity by promoting emotional content. However, the solution is found in distributing coming-out stories in different media resources using multiple forms of narration. This could be done, for instance, through blogging or distributing educational content related to the queer and gay community.
Reference
Ridder, & Dhaenens. (2019). Coming out as popular media practice: The politics of queer youth coming out on YouTube. DiGeSt. Journal of Diversity and Gender Studies, 6(2), 43. Web.