TL;DR
- GLAAD’s 2026 report shows declining safety for LGBTQ users online.
- Meta and YouTube are rolling back protections and moderation.
- TikTok is the only platform with a higher safety score this year.
- 92% of LGBTQ users feel less safe on Meta platforms.
- Calls for improved moderation and transparency in social media.
Hold onto your rainbow flags, folks, because the internet is getting a whole lot scarier for LGBTQ people. GLAAD just dropped its 2026 Social Media Safety Index report, and the findings are as alarming as a surprise visit from your conservative aunt. Major platforms like Meta and YouTube are not just failing to protect us; they’re actively rolling back the few protections we had, making the online world a hostile playground for LGBTQ individuals.
According to GLAAD, the report reveals a shocking decline in safety scores across nearly every major platform reviewed. Meta (that’s Facebook and Instagram, for those living under a rock) and YouTube are leading the charge in this retreat from online safety, weakening moderation policies and allowing anti-LGBTQ hate to flourish like weeds in a neglected garden. “What we did not expect, however, was a steady and precipitous erosion of those scores,” said GLAAD President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis. And honey, she’s not exaggerating.
In the report, GLAAD evaluated six major platforms — TikTok, YouTube, X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, Instagram, and Threads — across 14 LGBTQ-specific indicators related to online safety, privacy, and expression. Spoiler alert: none of them passed. TikTok scored the highest with a measly 56 out of 100, while YouTube came in at a dismal 30. Talk about a race to the bottom!
What’s particularly concerning is that this year’s scores are even worse than last year’s, when GLAAD already warned that Meta’s policy changes were an “extreme” retreat from established trust and safety standards. In fact, YouTube took the biggest hit, dropping 11 points after it decided to remove gender identity from its hate speech protections. Seriously, what were they thinking?
GLAAD’s report doesn’t hold back when it comes to calling out Meta for its disastrous changes made in early 2025. They stripped away crucial protections for LGBTQ users, especially those who are transgender and nonbinary, and even allowed users to label LGBTQ individuals as “mentally ill” or “abnormal.” Can you believe that? It’s like they’re handing out permission slips for hate.
And let’s not forget about the alarming trend of automated moderation systems. GLAAD argues that these AI tools are failing us on both ends — letting anti-LGBTQ harassment run rampant while suppressing legitimate LGBTQ expression. It’s a hot mess, and the report highlights the growing wave of AI-generated anti-LGBTQ deepfakes and nonconsensual imagery. We’re talking serious gaps in platform moderation here.
Ellis pointed out that the online climate is inextricably linked to the offline one. “The political climate in the United States has shifted sharply since January 2025, with direct consequences for social media safety,” she stated. And she’s right. With coordinated anti-LGBTQ campaigns intensifying, it’s no wonder that platforms are scaling back or eliminating safeguards designed to protect us.
But it’s not all doom and gloom. GLAAD is calling for action. They urge platforms to restore protections for LGBTQ users, improve transparency around algorithms and moderation practices, and invest in trained human moderators instead of relying solely on AI. Because let’s face it, social media is a lifeline for many LGBTQ folks, providing spaces to connect, learn, and find community.
So, what can we do? We need to hold these platforms accountable and demand better. Advertisers should question their commitments to LGBTQ safety and reconsider which platforms they’re supporting. Because at the end of the day, our safety and expression online should never be up for debate. Let’s make some noise and ensure our voices are heard!