Social Media and Rapid Onset Gender Dysphoria

[Kelly DeWinter]

Sometimes I get the opportunity to talk to Sociologists in my area. An area being investigated is the effects of Social Media on society. One area we have had a bit of conversation on is rapid onset gender dysphoria. Basically one area of research indicates a considerable spike in gender dysphoria cases and treatment based on social media and the subsequent reversion to gender norms among social media consumers.

Any thoughts ?

[kimdl93]

Just a question...was the "onset" considered a consequence of exposure to social media, or was the social media in some way "causal"? Any explanation of what "treatment based on social media" was comprised of?

[Rachael Leigh]

Maybe more people have a name for why they are the way they are.
Gender issues have been around a long long time we just know more about it

[Karen's Secret]

Frankly I don't see Social Media, as a segment of the broader Internet, having that big of an impact on the onset of gender dysphoria.

[Aunt Kelly]

I must admit that it's an intriguing line of inquiry, but until I can read a scholarly report on such "research", I am ...skeptical. Not that I don't take you at your word, Kelly, but this sounds more like academicians "riffing" than anything formal.

[docrobbysherry]

Nothing against u, Kelly, but this sounds a lot like the "fake news" I was forced to watch while visiting a friend for a week. We watched so many "talk shows" filled with innuendo, speculation, and some far out theories by unknowns that I guess, when repeated on TV were supposed to sound plausible. But, not to me!:Angry3:

On more than one occasion I became so fed up watching such blatant nonsense that I antisocially retreated to my bedroom!:doh:

[Teresa]

Kelly,
Most people in that profession are trying to come up with new angles on behaviour patterns we can't really prove or disprove them because we are all different , what affects one person may not affect another . Sherry makes a good point she had had enough of off the map talk shows whereas others might have lapped them up, I think I would have gone for a good night's sleep instead.

Social media has it's good points but many do suffer from it's misuse, I wonder how many feel bad about something they've
read about themselves or a good friend ? As for linking it to GD it depends on what sites you visit and who you choose to have as online friends .

[Tracii G]

TV talk shows are not worth watching I agree with Sherry.
TV in general is a waste of time.

[Hell on Heels]

Hell-o Kelly,
Any thoughts? Well........
Beer...cheeseburger...football...more beer...

I keep telling people that they don't want to
know what's going on inside my head!
But NOOOO, they just continue prying their way in!

I can see where social media may "expedite" the effects of
gender dysphoria. The advice, and encouragement provided
by others that have "gone before" has become extremely easy
to find. More people are "out" and openly sharing their experience.
More often it is provided in a positive manner, although some
do advise on the negative as well.
Given basic human nature, people will focus on the positive,
and sorta ignore everything else...

Social media?...is it a dysphoria fertilizer???

Much Love,
Kristyn

[Nikkilovesdresses]

...a considerable spike in gender dysphoria cases and treatment based on social media and the subsequent reversion to gender norms among social media consumers.

Er, what?

Does this mean social media users take up CDing rapidly, then equally rapidly lose interest?

I really don't understand your wording.

Or else I'm even dumber than I thunk.

[Sarah Doepner]

If these researchers want to suggest a cause and effect relationship I'd say they are barking up the wrong tree. If they are looking at social media as a source of information that diminishes the stature of preconceived barriers, then maybe they can find something. It may have some impact in helping someone self-diagnose feelings they don't understand and don't want to talk about. But the danger there is the same as self-diagnosis of any other problem, if it's the only one you see, everything fits (If the only tool you have is a hammer, every problem looks like a nail). That could account for the reversion to gender norms later as more information has become available that better explains what the person is experiencing.

If our understanding of dysphoria that we've been moving toward, that is gender dysphoria being a life-long condition, then "rapid-onset" would be nothing more than suddenly realizing you have gender identity issues rather than sexual orientation issues or some kind of misplaced fixation on your mother or some other woman in your life. My rapid onset came well before social media when I found a book in the library with respectfully done photos of transvestites. I suddenly had a vision of a larger community that was beyond my reach, but not my imagination.

[ClosetED]

I doubt there is a cause-effect relationship but an association. I can imagine that CDers, who have been repressing their actions due to fear of social disapproval, see that transgender activity is more accepted than they believed, based on social media. So they suddenly begin to act on their existing desires, making others believe it is rapid onset. Then once they see the real society is not representative of the social media milieu, they revert back to their repression. They may then seek treatment to help them explain the great and wonderful feelings they felt despite social displeasure.
IMHO
Hugs, Ellen

[sometimes_miss]

The more things we are exposed to, the more likely that we are to come across some sort of trigger that sets off a feeling of gender dysphoria. Another possibility, is that we subconsciously repress the thoughts about gender discomfort, but when exposed to stressful things, are unable to deal with those and repressing the transgender thoughts, and then they come to the forefront of our thoughts because we can't hold them back anymore, and then have to deal with all the problems that are now bothering us.

The backlash we have from the homophobic society members is simply a result of them being faced with something that they cannot accept, and then they become angry when it's constantly in the media and they feel forced to think about it. I've come across many people who are irate when there's any mention of gays, transgendered, or transexuals in the news, because as they exclaim, 'I don't want it thrown in my face! Why do they have to be on the news, in my newspaper,' etc. etc. etc.. They don't want their delusion of a perfect little all heterosexual world to be upset. So they lash out at those who they see as the cause of their discomfort. Not the bigots who instilled those feelings in them, no; they are angry at our existance because they cannot ignore us if we're everywhere they look. This is what inspires them to want to hurt, and kill us; all because they can't stand to even think about the possibility that they themselves, just might not be completely straight.

[deebra]

And I agree with TraciG, well said and we pay for cable T.V. and they offer nothing worth watching. Why don't they say something positive to educate the public for crossdresser acceptance. For example CDs are born to wear women's clothes and feel/be feminine; what's wrong with that, the public has accepted gays, lesbians, etc.;, why so slow on CDs? Women's clothes offer so much more than men's, if we are born CDs it's just natural that we would want to wear female clothes. Why not educate the public to this; that would be a worthwhile positive, attitude changing good thing to do. So if you are social meter then DO IT.

[Sarah Doepner]

. . . The backlash we have from the homophobic society members is simply a result of them being faced with something that they cannot accept, and then they become angry when it's constantly in the media and they feel forced to think about it. I've come across many people who are irate when there's any mention of gays, transgendered, or transexuals in the news, because as they exclaim, 'I don't want it thrown in my face! Why do they have to be on the news, in my newspaper,' etc. etc. etc..

Lexi, I love this point. I would add that to your statement that it is something they can't accept with "and they can't control", so that adds to their frustration. Once they begin to fixate on the LGBTQ+ world it's all they feel they are seeing. But I've seen the same effect in so many other areas of my life. I never noticed a particular model car on the highway until I bought one, then they were all over. I rarely noticed how many of a particular type of bird was in my yard until someone mentioned it and now they are all over the place. In this case we have been in the shadows and someone threw a spotlight on us and the angry muggles have become fixated on us. In some ways it would be nice to divert their attention someplace else for a while so we could go about our lives and they could pretend we aren't here.

[Kelly DeWinter]

Hello all, great comments.

I cannot speak for Sociologists in general, but on the conversations I have with my friend. We were discussing How social media both rapidly spreads quickly true,false and semi false information. In the printed media age ideas were formulated through academia, scientific lines of inquiry were formulated, research was performed and finding were published then peer review and feedback from professional and the public are held in public forums(print,radio, television) which in turn drives public policy.

In the internet or social media age . Public forums (chatrooms, fb, twitter etc) formulate ideas which influence public policy, mostly bypassing fact finding researchers and academia.




Just a question...was the "onset" considered a consequence of exposure to social media, or was the social media in some way "causal"? Any explanation of what "treatment based on social media" was comprised of?

I,m hoping to read some actual research too , it sounds interesting.


I must admit that it's an intriguing line of inquiry, but until I can read a scholarly report on such "research", I am ...skeptical. Not that I don't take you at your word, Kelly, but this sounds more like academicians "riffing" than anything formal.

We were also talking about how social media affects other area including school bullying,body shaming,and gender issues and politics


Kelly,
Most people in that profession are trying to come up with new angles on behaviour patterns we can't really prove or disprove them because we are all different , what affects one person may not affect another . Sherry makes a good point she had had enough of off the map talk shows whereas others might have lapped them up, I think I would have gone for a good night's sleep instead.

Social media has it's good points but many do suffer from it's misuse, I wonder how many feel bad about something they've
read about themselves or a good friend ? As for linking it to GD it depends on what sites you visit and who you choose to have as online friends .

[GretchenM]

Hi Kelly,

In your second post you expand some on the first post and that is helpful. I tend to agree with the idea that the ease of internet communications through social media can sometimes result in a fictional view of reality which can be confusing to those who may be dealing with difficult personal problems such as uncertainty in their gender identity. On the internet, there is this vast disconnect between fact and fiction that almost allows an anything goes attitude that makes some kind of sense out of almost any view of the world. That can result in some trying all kinds of different things that may actually result in personal damage as a side effect. Back in the days of researched media reports this seemed less likely to occur because you had to justify your position. On the internet justification is rarely expected.

Perhaps the greatest effect of social media on what you are talking about is the fact that it is so incredibly impersonal. There is no investment in the relationship. You are talking to people who may not even be using their real name and there is no actual contact. That lack of face to face contact opens the door for a more free flowing expression that carries little responsibility for being able to substantiate statements or claims. One can make up all kinds of things and be viewed as some kind of expert with no responsibility to prove you are knowledgeable. For someone who is even a bit gender dysphoric, I suspect this can throw gasoline on a fire that is little more than a flicker. That could explode into what appears to be a rapid onset of severe gender dysphoria. Perhaps, in the end that is useful for some because they maybe needed to be jolted, but for others it can create huge problems that nearly destroy lives. I think your discussions with these sociologists are quite relevant, but I am sure you will keep in mind that gender issues are much more fundamental to the personality. Social media may bring out those issues more strongly, or rapidly escalate them into a bonfire, but I doubt social media is causal of gender dysphoria in very many people without some underlying issues being present.

Gretchen

[Mickitv]

It is very difficult to believe what you hear on tv or on the internet