Navigating Non-binary Experiences: Insights and Design Implications in Mandarin-Speaking Taiwanese Online Spaces

Despite the role of online spaces as resources and support networks for non-binary individuals, these users encounter significant challenges in presenting and disclosing their gender identities, particularly in non-Western contexts where such practices remain understudied. To address this gap, we conducted a mixed-methods study with 12 participants, employing asynchronous remote community interactions, workshops, and interviews. Our findings reveal: 1) the impacts of technological affordances and embedded gender norms on non-binary online identities and negotiations, 2) text-based representation of non-binary users’ gender identities in online spaces, and 3) self-presentation in spoken Mandarin and voice-based communication. We underscore the necessity of designing inclusive online spaces that address cross-cultural and linguistic diversity while catering to the unique needs of non-binary users’ gender presentation.