These negative feelings can be further reinforced by the dominant culture’s assumption of heterosexuality (Glover, Galliher, & Lamere, 2009) as well as the ongoing political struggles related to issues like gay marriage. Because of the complicated process of developing identity in adolescence, teenagers have a great desire to fit in and feel accepted and “normal.” For lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) adolescents, coming out, appearing different, or concealing a hidden difference can lead to marginalization or feelings of stigmatization that can negatively impact mental health (Pachankis, 2007 Bedard & Marks, 2010). In other words, by defining themselves as included in a particular clique, adolescents must also define who is not included. This also leads them to become intolerant and cruel to anyone they view as different (Erikson, 1958). Further, uncertainty about their identity causes adolescents to develop in-groups through which they can define themselves. Because of this, adolescents identify with individuals who appeal to them while simultaneously rejecting others as negative figures that represent what the adolescent hopes not to become (McAdams, 1993). In working to develop their identities, adolescents actively negotiate between themselves and their social worlds. The adolescent is now able to think abstractly and can envision possible futures for their life (Crain, 2005).
It is during this time that adolescents experience changes, including the onset of previously unknown sexual longings and desires, that cause them to notice incongruities between their past and present (McAdams, 1993). One of the major developmental tasks of adolescence is the formation of an individual identity. Cynthia’s research interests include the psychology of the interactive user experience, the ways in which viewers relate to media figures, and how interactions with popular media affect the development of personal identity in adolescence. in Media Psychology and Social Change from Fielding Graduate University. Previously, Vinney worked for top interactive and advertising agencies including RPA, Level Studios, and Schematic designing user experiences for clients such as Mandalay Bay, the California Tobacco Control Program, Acura, Time Warner Cable, VIZIO, and Logitech. She is currently a consultant providing user experience strategy and design solutions for interactive projects at all phases of development for agencies including Dustland Media, Dailey & Associates and iconmobile and clients including Honda, Aspen Dental, Nokia, and Kraft. The article concludes with suggestions for enhancements through community interaction that would make the campaign more immediately inclusive and supportive of the gay adolescents it seeks to help.Ĭynthia Vinney, MA is a user experience designer and information architect who specializes in designing intuitive and engaging user interfaces for platforms such as web, television and mobile. Additionally, the article analyzes how well the campaign’s narratives mesh with the narratives gay youth may feel they are living. This article examines the narratives used by the campaign and its videos and how these narratives address the campaign’s primary intended audience of gay adolescents as well as a secondary audience of gay adults and other supporters. The It Gets Better Project, an online social change campaign, seeks to provide hope and visions of positive futures to gay youth through video contributions created by gay adults and other supporters. For adolescents who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender, this may be more difficult because of feelings of stigmatization and negative experiences like bullying. Adolescence is the first time during the developmental process in which individuals are able to imagine possible futures for themselves.
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