A series highlighting how content creators cultivate queer joy.

YR Media partnered with Hopelab, a social innovation lab, on this series to highlight how LGBTQIA+ Gen Z youth form deep emotional bonds with social media creators, impacting their mental health and sense of identity. Hopelab, which surveyed 1,715 young people ages 13 to 22, reveals how these parasocial relationships provide validation and community, offering much-needed support that many lack in their offline lives. For many, TikTok and Instagram aren’t just for fun — they’re lifelines for self-expression and community. YR correspondents talked to content creators to dig deeper into how these online relationships play out. (In addition to the interviews below, don’t miss our special Adult ISH episode with Hopelab!)