We’re getting social on the Virgin Radio Pridecast this week!

Virgin Radio

29 Apr 2022, 13:21

This week on the Virgin Radio Pridecast, Alex and Shivani are talking about something which nearly all of us use every single day - social media. But, is living life online really that positive, or are there downsides? And what effect does social media have on the LGBTQ+ community in particular?

You’ll hear from broadcaster and YouTuber Riyadh Khalaf about why he started posting videos online:

"My motivation to go online in the first place was to find a safe space. I didn’t have it in school, I didn’t necessarily have it at home. I was closeted, I had this dark secret that I was terrified of, and the internet was this outlet for creativity, campness, and really whatever I wanted to do…"

You’ll also hear from poet Sophia Blackwell on the pressure to share opinions online, and how this has changed the way we communicate with others in our community:

"What has changed is that social media doesn’t really allow for much humour, much nuance, or the opportunity to read something, maybe react a little angrily to it in your mind, and then maybe go away and think 'Actually, maybe that person’s right…' - instead it’s just: 'Listen to my hot take…' - well maybe nobody wants your hot take!"

Finally, Alex and Shivani will also here from YouTuber Calum McSwiggan on the pressure he felt to post pictures of his body on platforms like Instagram: 

"For a long time, I felt that people online would not respect me if I didn’t look a certain way… So I felt really pressured and pushed into striving to make myself look a little bit more like what is deemed to be acceptable or desired…"

All that - plus Daryl Jackson will be here as always with your Virgin Radio Pride Weekly Update!

You can listen to the latest episode here. 

The Virgin Radio Pridecast is a weekly look back through the archives of Virgin Radio Pride, our fabulous three-month pop-up radio station which ran last summer. Each week, Alex Milsom and Shivani Dave re-live some of the best moments, as well as attempting to continue the great conversations that Virgin Radio Pride started. There are entertaining guests, jaw-dropping stories, and of course loads of the laugh out loud moments and insightful, important discussions which made Virgin Radio Pride so special…