Hamer (2003) uses information poverty to examine his
findings about barriers and challenges in the information
seeking behaviours of young gay men around coming out
and gay identity. This group reported concealing their information
seeking activities due to potential negative
consequences such as losing friends or being forced to
leave home. Using the Internet (chat rooms, online groups,
etc.) to interact with other young gay adults was the most
popular form of information seeking due to the relative
anonymity it allows, as well as the opportunity to connect
with others in similar situations. Respondents also engaged
in other types of information seeking such as watching
television, reading books and magazines, and visiting gay
bars. The results reflect four of Chatman’s six propositions,
relating to a lack of resources, self-protective behaviours,
not taking the risk of revealing a need due to negative consequences,
and a mistrust of outsiders in providing useful
information. This study is most similar to ours because it
considers Internet use in the context of information poverty,
and as a popular means of support where few others
are available.