Facebook Willies
I recently set up a facebook account. I love the idea of using it to help readers find out more about me and my books. But ultimately I hope folks will visit the blog. It’s all I can do to keep one thing updated! But I recently read an article that 65% of lesbians use facebook (slightly less for gay men, both compared to less than 50% of the heterosexual population). At first this surprised me, but once I thought about it, it made a lot of sense. After all, many folks dare not be open about their sexuality where they live and work for fear of job loss and social troubles. And even if they do dare, it can be hard to make connections with others.
These are things my protagonist Lonnie Squires faces constantly–the fear of having her life go all to hell if she outs herself. The belief as she looks around her that even if she did come out, she’d be the only one. A serious lack of community.
Maybe Lonnie needs to get a facebook account. That could provide plenty of scary stuff for an upcoming book! What would I call it? Faced. Booked. Networked to Death.
Anybody have any ideas about why homosexuals use social networks so much more than straight folks?
I’m looking for you on FB. There are too many Josie Gordons!
I think it’s because gay people were always more comfortable than straight people answering personal print ads and eventually online ads — I think that comfort stemmed from a perception that there were less predators lurking. And depending on where you live it can be hard to meet other gay people — the internet has been such a boon in that sense.
Intriguing idea about few predators lurking out there in the world of ads for gay people. I hadn’t thought of that!