A new study has suggested that online searches by Google users for phrases questioning their own sexuality and gender identity, including 'Am I gay' and 'Am I lesbian', skyrocketed by 1,300 per cent since 2004, a new report has shown.
The findings were published by the market research firm Cultural Currents Institute collected Google Trends data from January 2004 to this month for questions related to sexual orientation and gender identity across the US.
A significant upward trend was observed across the US for the five searched terms including - 'Am I gay', 'Am I lesbian', 'Am I trans', 'How to come out', and 'Nonbinary'. As per the reports, Utah, which is known to be a state with traditionally 'conservative social values' has topped three out of five searched term categories - 'Am I gay', 'Am I lesbian', and 'Am I trans' since last May.
"This might indicate a significant underlying questioning of identity among its Internet users, possibly driven by the conflict between personal feelings and societal expectations," the report said. "These tensions between public life and web searches are common in Utah, where we recently shared data indicating that searches for 'VPN' surged after the website PornHub blocked the state," it added as reported by IANS.
Although, it seems people in Oklahoma state have been having difficulties expressing or accepting their sexuality as the state has the highest search volume for the phrase 'How to come out' in 2022 followed by West Virginia, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Kentucky.
Kentucky ranked second-lowest in the four categories that measured equality.
The report also added that the historical search volume for the term 'Nonbinary' was limited but gaining search traction.
Since last May, Vermont has had the highest search volume for the term.
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