Now, this is where things get tricky. Two things can be true at the same time: we can show empathy toward another human being, while also refusing to tolerate or accept harmful behaviors. This is why it is important to carefully select who you have the energy to engage with. For example, sometimes I have the energy to address homophobes or racists online & use those conversations as an opportunity to educate or shed light on common social issues. Sometimes I absolutely do not have that energy. The beauty of social media is that you have so much more control than the algorithms lead you to believe. You can decide who you want to engage with & when you want to put your phone down. 

As I am sure you have been able to gather by now, there are many dangers and difficulties with presenting your most vulnerable self to the world. There will always be people who will try to tear you down, insult you, gaslight you, & hurt you. However, it is essential to remember that you are never alone. You will inevitably become part of one or multiple online communities who will support and uplift you. Personally, I did not have connections with openly queer people in my life offline. I believe this is partly why it took me until age 23 to realize I was queer. My online interactions were the only queer interactions I could have, especially during the pandemic.