# Investigating Gender Euphoria and Dysphoria on TikTok: Characterization and Comparison

**Authors:** SJ Dillon, Yueqing Liang, H. Russell Bernard, Kai Shu  
**arXiv:** [2305.19552](https://arxiv.org/abs/2305.19552)  
**Date:** 2023-05-31  
**Summary page:** https://www.summarizepaper.com/en/paper/2305.19552v1/

## Key points

- Study focuses on gender experiences on TikTok
- TikTok is popular among transgender and nonbinary individuals for sharing experiences
- Research analyzes gender euphoria and dysphoria discussions on TikTok
- Similar language used to describe both gender euphoria and dysphoria
- Gender euphoria described more similarly between transfeminine and transmasculine experiences compared to gender dysphoria
- Highlights nuances in how individuals perceive and express their gender identities online
- Provides valuable insights into engagement with identities within digital spaces like TikTok

## Summary

The study "Investigating Gender Euphoria and Dysphoria on TikTok: Characterization and Comparison" by SJ Dillon, Yueqing Liang, H. Russell Bernard, and Kai Shu delves into the exploration of gender experiences within online communities on TikTok. The emergence of short video-sharing platforms has led to increased engagement with social media sites dedicated to opinion and knowledge dissemination. Among these platforms, TikTok stands out as one of the most popular globally, particularly among transgender and nonbinary individuals who have formed a significant community for sharing personal experiences and exchanging information. The research extends existing studies on gender euphoria and gender dysphoria by analyzing how these two types of gender experiences are discussed within online TikTok spaces. The findings reveal distinct descriptions of gender euphoria and gender dysphoria in these online communities. Interestingly, there are notable similarities in the language used to describe both gender dysphoria and gender euphoria in the comments of videos as well as in content creators' hashtags. Moreover, the study highlights that gender euphoria is described more similarly between transfeminine and transmasculine experiences compared to gender dysphoria, which appears to be influenced by individual gendering experiences and transition goals. This differentiation sheds light on the nuanced ways in which individuals perceive and express their gender identities online. Overall, this research provides valuable insights into how transgender and nonbinary individuals engage with their identities within digital spaces like TikTok. By understanding the nuances of gender euphoria and dysphoria discussions on social media platforms, future studies can further explore the complexities of identity formation within online communities.