It goes without saying that social media is here to stay. It’s become a rite of passage for most adolescents to create their own user accounts with almost unlimited access to the internet.
Safeguards for parents to limit and monitor online activity exist, but the ubiquitous nature of “always” being available online has fundamentally changed learning and socializing.
“Back in my day,” we had to dial up to the internet, and each minute online was pre-paid to AOL.
WiFi wasn’t a thing yet, and cyberbullying was yet to be defined as a cultural phenomenon. Ah, simpler times…
Nostalgia aside, in the past, for many people, especially people with disabilities, establishing a sense of connection with others required a face-to-face conversation. For people who felt like they didn’t fit within a neurotypical paradigm, life could feel alienating and strange; perhaps a sense of cohesion with others facing similar struggles was only met in a special educational classroom or specialized services office.
More restrictive environments often do not facilitate social or academic growth opportunities without integrating into less restrictive environments.
Due to this separation, stigma and misinformation would run rampant in and outside school.
Parents looking for additional information or perspectives were also limited in their exposure to new ideas or to commiserate about their experiences.
Safety Tips for Young Adults When Using Online Platforms
To better address the question, we must first unpack what social media is and how it works.
Social media involves websites and applications that allow users to make and distribute content (personal or otherwise) and share in social networking.
The most common examples are Instagram, Facebook, Reddit, and X (Twitter), among others.
These social media companies have age-related restrictions as well as guidelines for content matter being posted.
Users can restrict or block accounts and provide context as to why they elected to do so to that social media company.
So, are teenage users with disabilities “safe” on these social media platforms?
This is a difficult question to answer and a very mixed answer for me. Yes, there are guidelines and age restrictions to make an account, but harmful material on these platforms is still accessible with just a few words put into Google.
The most immediate concerns when it comes to teenagers (with disabilities) accessing social media are cyberbullying and “doxxing” themselves through information sharing with others.
Doxxing essentially means giving away identifiable details about yourself, including your name, home address, contact information (e.g., phone number), and names of family members.
Here are some common sense and easy-to-follow safety tips for online platforms to help you maintain your social media safety.
DO NOT give out personal details such as your name, home address, phone number, social security number, or anything else that personally identifies you.
Keep your profile set to “private” and only accept requests from people you know.
Direct messaging is a means of direct communication outside of the “general view” of a social platform. For instance, on X, people tweet and reply, but these are more so visible to everyone as long as the initial poster has a public profile.
Block accounts that make inappropriate or harmful comments; you can also report them, which may result in their account being suspended or terminated.
Online communities can be a wonderful source of support and give you resources, but there are a lot of applications designated to sell you products or steal information.
If you have a “bad feeling” about a user’s intentions, act on that feeling and minimize contact.
If you are sent a link to “check out this cool product/strategy,” evaluate the URL address to ensure it is a safe link.
If you are pressured to access the link, take that as a sign that this might be a “bad actor” looking to get something from you.
Staying Safe When Accessing Online Disability Communities
A lot of accounts on Instagram or subreddits on Reddit are specifically designed to provide users with information and opportunities to have discussions that enhance the overall visibility of the main focus of that account or community.
I follow a bunch of ADHD-related subreddits because I love people’s stories and occasionally comment on advice-related posts.
I self-disclose small details when I think it’s relevant, and often I decide against sharing too much.
Additionally, I find tidbits of information that are relevant to me personally, too!
However, I will err by limiting my contributions to topics or threads that may present red flags; I prefer not to disclose too much information online to people I don’t know to maintain my online safety.
I tend to “lurk” online more than I contribute unless a particular topic is compelling enough to add to, and even then, it’s more from an educational sense than an opportunity to share many personal details.
It’s also important to keep in mind that these online communities can be a great source of support for a person with a disability. We’ve seen a sharp increase in communities due to the advent of the internet but more recently due to the pandemic.
How to Disclose Information Anonymously
My general rule of thumb is not to include any identifiable personal information to avoid doxxing myself.
Suppose a particular online discussion topic is relevant to you and your experiences. However, the contributions you want to make include personal details you wouldn’t normally share on an online thread.
In that case, I might reframe the response as “A close friend had a similar experience.” Or, “From my professional experience, I have seen…”
I am not giving “personal” details, per se, allowing me to share without tying it to myself.
I am still cognizant not to include real names, locations, or any other sensitive data.
Why is This Topic Important?
Frankly, it's important because online safety and data protection is always going to be a factor from the moment you access the internet, buy a smartphone or computer, and make an email address or user account.
I grew up in a time when social media (i.e., MySpace) was just in its infancy, but I have been around long enough to watch it grow into a modern-day juggernaut.
Phishing emails have grown in sophistication from the days of the "Nigerian Prince" scams.
Cyberbullying has become an unfortunate but very real threat for a lot of young people on the internet and through social media.
Scamming has increased in the last few years, especially due to the pandemic.
Lastly, this topic is important because online communities should be supportive and safe places for people to come together and grow personally and socially, regardless of their primary focus.
My immediate concern (aside from the elderly) when researching this topic was the overall safety of adolescents looking to find supportive communities online.
Teenagers are the most susceptible to peer pressure and are bigger targets for harassment or bullying online.
Teenagers have poorer coping skills overall, are more prone to sensation-seeking behaviors, and have a stronger drive toward gaining attention with less inhibition control.
What Can We Learn from These Practices?
Overall, younger generations seem more prone to engaging with others online and are finding many opportunities for support through social media platforms. However, despite the inviting nature of interacting with others facing similar experiences, it's important to be aware of the potential dangers and maintain a healthy line when establishing boundaries online.
Always be wary of efforts made to continue the conversation "off the site" or engage in personal communications using your personal number, Whatsapp, or any other form of communication. In addition, do not immediately trust links sent to you from someone you don't know, and if anyone is pushy for you to engage, maintain a firm line of communication that you are not comfortable with; end all communications if need be.
Online communities can (and are) be a great source of support, strategies, and a place to vent. However, as with in-person communications, we must be guarded in what we share and with whom.
Be safe out there!
Respectfully,
Dustin.
I am publishing educational content to help high schoolers with disabilities and their parents. Click the link below!
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