Safer online lives: use of the internet and social media by people with intellectual disabilities

Introduction

Many people with intellectual disabilities (ID) have internet access and use social media. Even though the internet use can be very positive, it also comes with risks such as cyber-bullying and exploitation. There is limited research and anecdotal evidence raising the issue of online safety for this vulnerable population. Further research evidence is needed to identify the positive aspects but also the barriers this population experiences, and the way social care professionals and family carers respond to online safety issues.

Objectives

The overall objective of this study is to explore the benefits of internet user for people with intellectual disabilities, the risks they might come up against while online, the barriers they might come across due to the ‘digital divide’, and the opportunities offered by being online. The views and experiences of family carers and/or paid carers as well as the views of other safeguarding practitioners around the aforementioned issues highlighted will also be investigated.

This study will:

1. investigate the online experiences of people with intellectual disabilities (positive and negative experiences; barriers, benefits and opportunities)
2. investigate the perspectives and experiences of different stakeholders (i.e. family carers, paid carers and safeguarding practitioners in intellectual disabilities – for example: social workers, learning disability nurses and police)
3. further investigate the perspectives and experiences of people with intellectual disabilities related to using the internet and social media
4. investigate the different stakeholder’s perspectives on internet use (positive & negative) for people with intellectual disabilities. We will also investigate their views on how we can provide better support on internet use and online safety
5. observe a number of adults with intellectual disabilities to understand how people process the information presented to them online and their reasoning in making different decisions.

Methods

This is an exploratory study which will utilise mixed methods, using both qualitative and quantitative elements.

• A questionnaire will be used to explore the online experiences of people with intellectual disabilities, and the perspectives and experiences of different stakeholders.
• In-depth interviews (20) will be used to explore the perspectives and experiences of people with intellectual disabilities related to using the internet and social media.
• Focus groups will take place to explore different stakeholder’s perspectives on internet use for people with intellectual disabilities.
• Observations via a bespoke computerised interactive app and a “think aloud” observational assessment will take place of about 30 adults with intellectual disabilities to understand how people process the information presented to them online and their reasoning in making different decisions.