Diverse LGBTQ+ content at Pexels
The importance of diverse content that represents our society cannot be understated. While brands and companies generally have access to paid stock photo sites, Pexels exists for the rest of us for free, yet is already one of the most diverse stock photo sites. Pexels has recently updated its algorithm to present even more LGBTQ+ content, to not only recognize Pride Month, but to better represent society.
Since launching in 2014 (and following an acquisition by Canva in 2018), Pexels mission statement has been focused on creating the most diverse stock photo and video catalog, valuing inclusivity and true representation of all cultures and races. This included a partnership with Nappy in 2018 and a continued adjustment of its core algorithm to produce this representative content. Because this is who we are.
Traditionally, stock photo sites have been chock full of smiling white people in pristine, staged environments. That is just not representative of the world and the people around us. That's some sort of weird, white fantasy world created by an out-of-touch and out-of-time society. The relationships around us are diverse, in every way you can imagine. Highlighting Black and Brown faces and the LGBTQ+ community shouldn't be anything but standard. That's our world. And we should all see the world in stock photography and video as we see it around us.
“As one of the premier free photo and video libraries, we understand the power a photo or video can have,” said Monica Silvestre, Head of Community at Pexels in a press release. “Media has the power to make or break ideologies, challenge the status quo and humanize experiences. Images fuel stories and create movements, and it’s our responsibility as a global platform to act as a force for good; a force that helps power progress. This is why we’re improving our learning algorithm. The next time someone searches for 'couple' or 'love' they will find refreshing content that reflects life as it really is around us—straight couples, same sex couples, interracial couples, non-binary folks and more.”
Pexels currently offers over two million photos and videos for free. The algorithm change will make sure that searches performed on the site return a diverse set of photos and videos regardless of the generalities of search terms. This eliminates having to specifically search for diverse content and instead, it's just part of the overall offering, as it should be. In a world in which many consider cisgender, hetero, white-washed content "normal", Pexels is showing what normal really looks like by removing these search term barriers.
In addition to bringing LGBTQ+ and other diverse content on a level playing field with the traditional stock imagery we've been stuck with for decades, Pexels is amping up its effort to partner with creators and companies that prioritize LGBTQ+ perspectives. In the meantime, Pexels will continue to update its algorithm and encourages photographers to upload their LGBTQ+ content to further enhance the offering of diverse stock photography.
