New Profile Security Features Designed With LGBTQ+ Safety in Mind

Online spaces should give people more control, not less. For many LGBTQ+ users, profile visibility is not just a matter of preference. It can be a matter of comfort, privacy, and personal safety.

That is why these new security features are such an important step forward. They are built to give users more control over who can find them, what personal details are visible, and how much of their identity is shared publicly. Whether someone is fully out, selectively out, questioning, or simply wants more privacy online, these tools help create a safer and more flexible experience.

At the center of these updates is a stronger focus on profile security. Instead of forcing people into an all-or-nothing approach, these settings make it possible to choose exactly how visible a profile should be.

More Control Over Who Can Find You

One of the most helpful options is Hide from friends suggestions list. This reduces the chances of a profile being surfaced through automatic recommendation systems. For LGBTQ+ users, that added layer of distance can be incredibly important, especially when trying to avoid unwanted exposure to family members, coworkers, classmates, or people from their local community.

The new Hide from Search & Directory option adds yet another layer of control by removing a profile from search results and public people listings. This is especially valuable for users who want to participate in the community without being easily discoverable. Not everyone wants to be searchable by strangers, and for vulnerable users, discoverability can feel less like a feature and more like a risk.

Built-In Protections for LGBTQ+ Members

One of the most meaningful additions is Identity Safety Mode. This feature is specifically designed to offer extra protections for LGBTQ+ members across profile visibility, search, posts, and people listings. That kind of platform-wide protection matters. Safety is not just about hiding one field on a profile. It is about reducing risk across the entire experience.

A feature like this acknowledges that identity-based harassment and unwanted visibility are real concerns. It gives users a more protective option that better reflects the realities many LGBTQ+ people face online.

Safer Identity Expression

Pseudonym-only Mode is another powerful feature. This allows users to hide their real name from everyone except themselves and moderators. For many LGBTQ+ people, using a chosen name or pseudonym online can offer both emotional comfort and practical protection. It creates space to connect authentically without exposing legal names or other identifying details that could lead to harassment, outing, or discrimination.

There is also stronger protection around identity-related profile elements. With Hide Profile Badge/Theme from Public, users can hide pride flags and profile color presets from non-logged-in visitors. This helps users celebrate who they are inside trusted spaces without feeling pressured to display those details to the entire internet.

The same philosophy carries into profile details with options like Pronouns Visible to Followers Only and Pride Flag Visible to Followers Only. These settings recognize something important: identity expression should happen on the user’s terms. Some people want to share pronouns and pride symbols openly. Others may want those details visible only to approved followers or trusted connections. Giving that choice back to users is a meaningful safety improvement.

More Privacy for Personal Details

The new Location Visible to Approved Followers Only setting helps reduce the risk of unwanted attention by limiting hometown and current city information to trusted followers. Location data can reveal more than people realize. For users who are concerned about stalking, harassment, or real-world safety, keeping that information restricted can make a huge difference.

Why These Features Matter

Taken together, these features send a clear message: privacy and identity control matter. They matter for everyone, but they are especially meaningful for LGBTQ+ users who may be navigating different levels of visibility in different parts of their lives. A person may be out to friends but not family, out online but not at work, confident in one space and cautious in another. Good platform design should support that reality, not ignore it.

These new settings make room for nuance. They give users more control over visibility, discovery, identity markers, and personal information. Most importantly, they help make the platform feel safer for people who need that extra protection.

Real inclusion is not just about adding pride colors during Pride Month. It is about building features that respect the lived experiences of LGBTQ+ users all year long. Profile security is part of that. Privacy is part of that. Choice is part of that. And these updates are a strong move in the right direction.