Hornet Networks

Aug 24, 2022

I write about economic justice and discriminatory practices in tech. New!Follow this author to stay notified about their latest stories. Got it! Got it! Courtesy of Queer Spaces Inc Queer Spaces Inc (Spaces) is rapidly becoming an exemplar of social innovation and a force for good. As the largest social media platforms continue failing LGBTQ+ users , the emerging titan of tech is making their safety its top priority. Recently featured as Apple’s “App of The Day ,” the booming start-up was launched in March of 2022 by parent company Hornet Networks . Hornet, the world’s largest queer tech platform with over 35 million diverse users, has been a pivotal player in digital inclusion since 2011. The Spaces app is closely following suit as an extension of the company’s passion for cutting-edge technology that enables users to build safer communities centered on shared interests and authentic connections. A 2021 report by the Anti-Defamation League ( ADL ) revealed that 64% of LGBTQ people experience more bullying, harassment, and algorithmic aggression than any other demographic online. That abuse is compounded when racism, sexism, and other biases co-0ccur. “Over the last few years, all of the big social media platforms have become toxic pits of hate, with the bulk of the harassment being directed at LGBTQ+ people of color,” Shon Washington tells Forbes. The Tulsa-based Navy veteran and longtime Twitter user currently hosts more than a dozen different communities on the Spaces app. “It’s nice to see a new platform so far removed from all the doomscrolling and negativity. I’ve had nothing but positive interactions with other queer people on Spaces—something I didn’t know was even possible anymore.” Shon Washington on Spaces App Courtesy of Queer Spaces Inc In 2021, the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation ( GLAAD ) teamed up with Ranking Digital Rights and Goodwin Simon Strategic Research to address the uptick of cyber-based violence head-on. The Social Media Safety Index ( SMSI ) was developed soon after to help drive transparency and accountability, while providing companies with helpful feedback and tools for making their platforms safer. Not just for the LGBTQ+ community, but for other vulnerable groups as well. MORE FOR YOU The 2022 edition of the SMSI included a digital scorecard through which platforms were numerically rated on LGBTQ+ safety, privacy, and expression. Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and YouTube collectively flunked, scoring below 50% out of 100. The latest SMSI also revealed that 84% of LGBTQ+ adults believe platforms aren’t doing enough to mitigate queerphobic hate. What’s more, 40% of all LGBTQ+ adults and 49% of trans and non-binary users report not feeling safe or welcomed on social media. “The LGBTQ+ community is in desperate need of safe digital spaces. Frankly, the big social platforms — Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, and the rest — have completely abdicated any duty to keep queer people safe from harm,” says Christof Wittig , CEO of Queer Spaces, Inc. “So we at Spaces are thrilled to provide the queer community with that platform. We’re the first app that is truly for all segments of the LGBTQ+ community. Ultimately what we’re creating is a place where we can feel safe and able to be our entire, most authentic selves. Nothing is more important than that.” The current socio-political climate supports Wittig’s sentiments. With over 325 proposed anti-LGBTQ bills in circulation , 130 of them specifically targeting trans people, safe spaces are more crucial now than ever. While members of the LGBTQ+ community typically share a special affinity for one another, their hobbies and lived experiences often vary. Spaces prides itself on connecting users at their point of interest, rather than monolithic notions of what it means to be queer or trans. According to GLAAD’s 2021 SMSI , 88% of queer and trans people shared a preference for queer-run communities over heteronormative platforms. Each group chat presents a unique opportunity for members to pursue their passions and common interests without the threat of hate or discrimination. “Social media is extremely hostile toward the queer community, especially trans and non-binary people. Big platforms don’t particularly care about us and our safety,” explains Tori Lima, who hosts spaces for both LGBTQ+ fans of DC Comics and LGBTQ+ hockey fans. According to Lima, being visible on larger platforms tends to be extremely unsafe, and can even lead to doxxing and death threats. “The Spaces app is resolving that hostility by creating an environment for queer people to safely discuss our interests. It’s amazing being able to talk about queer comic characters without worrying that the wrong person will see your tweet or post and start harassing you.” Tori Lima on Spaces App Courtesy of Queer Spaces Inc From gaymers to running enthusiasts, queer parenting groups, hiking clubs, practitioners of the healing arts, queer Star Wars fandom, you name it—there’s a space on the app for everyone. If not, users can easily create one within seconds. The platform’s discoverability tool makes it easy to attract members to help each newly established community thrive. Spaces has become a timely solution to the growing demand for platforms that promote organic connections over profit-driven agendas that further marginalize people. In June of 2022, Spaces (via Hornet) published a first-of-its-kind, ten-point pledge distinguishing itself from other social media platforms. The Safety Pledge encapsulates the company’s commitment to keeping LGBTQ+ safety its highest priority. Here are the 10 points of the Safety Pledge. Read more about each point here . 1. We pledge to create and maintain social media platforms where hate, harassment and other abuses have no home. 2. We pledge to ensure our moderation policies are transparent and free from the anti-LGBTQ bias inherent to so many platforms. 3. We pledge to always combat fraud and other abusive behavior that runs rampant on many platforms. 4. We pledge that our users’ physical safety will always remain a top priority. 5. We pledge to keep users’ overall health and well-being an integral part of our legacy. 6. We pledge to always make authenticity a key value of our products, in ways that support the unique needs of our LGBTQ+ community. 7. We pledge to protect our users’ personal data at all costs, and pledge to ensure all our users have both access to and control over their own data and privacy. 8. We pledge to only rely on technology (including algorithms and AI) that does not exploit or unfairly treat LGBTQ people and other vulnerable communities. 9. We pledge to resist any overly broad or otherwise improper government access to our users and their data. 10. We pledge to renounce income from bad actors and queerphobic entities of all kinds, including corporate and government entities. The Safety Pledge is gaining rapid popularity among members of the LGBTQ community as it was crafted with input from various organizations, community partners, and thought-leaders across the globe. If Spaces empowering users to exercise full ownership of their groups weren’t enough, for a limited time they can also own a piece of the company. On August 11th, the platform launched a crowdfunding campaign on Wefunder , raising nearly $714,000 in under 2 weeks. LGBTQ+ people and their allies alike can now invest in the app for as little as $100. Learn more here . Spaces is available for download in the Apple App Store here. Follow @spacesqueerapp on all platforms. Follow me on  Twitter .