Social media algorithms are revealing users' sexual orientation or gender identity before some of them know themselves, according to research out of the University of Newcastle.
A new study has coined the term 'algorithmic outing', which is when platforms such as TikTok or Instagram glean and surface a user's queer identity through personalised content and recommendations based on videos they like, creators they follow or posts they might have lingered on.
Lead author from the University of Newcastle's School of Law and Justice Justin Ellis said the phenomenon was becoming more prominent as social media advances.
"Several participants told us the algorithm 'knew' they were queer before they did," Dr Ellis said.
"That experience was described as validating for some, but confronting or even frightening for others, particularly when it happened in public or semi-public settings."
Research participants described platforms like TikTok quickly populating their feeds with LGBTQI+ content based on likes, follows or views.
While that helped some people explore their identity privately, it also raised concerns about privacy, safety and loss of control over when and how people choose to disclose.
The research explores how LGBTQI+ adults navigate 'hybrid spaces', everyday environments where online activity and in-person interactions overlap.
Places such as cafes, public transport, workplaces and nightlife were identified as locations where 'algorithmic outing' often occurred.
Dr Ellis said seeing queer content appear on a screen while riding the bus or in a cafe was not a "neutral experience".
"Screens are visible, and algorithms don't account for risk, context or personal readiness," he said.
The research was based on in-depth interviews with 20 LGBTQI+ adults aged 18 to 60, who reported using privacy settings, multiple accounts or passive browsing to 'self-censor' in public and avoid unwanted attention, harassment or being outed involuntarily.
While many participants valued online spaces for connection and belonging, they also described heightened vigilance as the algorithm shaped what appeared on their screens.
Dr Ellis said algorithmic outing showed how deeply digital systems were embedded in daily life.
"Algorithms sort, predict and classify users in ways that reflect existing biases and social tensions. For LGBTQI+ people, that can mean negotiating safety not just from other users, but from the technologies themselves," Dr Ellis said.
"If platforms are going to identify who their users are, they also need to take responsibility for how, and where, that identity becomes visible to ensure community safety."
While calling for greater transparency and responsibility from digital platforms, participants discussed practical solutions including clearer consent mechanisms, privacy-by-design features and tools that would allow users to exit sensitive content quickly in unsafe situations.
