Safer Online Lives
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Safer online lives: use of the internet & social media by people with Intellectual Disabilities
IRAS ID
293445
Contact name
Paraskevi Triantafyllopoulou
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Kent
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 10 months, 1 days
Research summary
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.
This study will look at the benefits of using the internet for people with ID, the risks they might come up against while online, the barriers people with ID might encounter and the opportunities offered by being online. We will survey 100 people with ID to investigate their online positive experiences and the risks they take while online. We will also send out separate questionnaires to family carers, paid carers and safeguarding practitioners to also look at their experiences supporting people with ID, who use the internet. We will interview a subgroup of approximately 20 adults with ID (10 women, 10 men) for in depth analysis and understanding of their online experiences. Four focus groups will take place with family carers paid carers and safeguarding practitioners to understand their perspectives and experiences on internet use for people with ID. It is intended that the carers will be independent of the subgroup of people with ID that will take part in the interviews, although there might be some overlaps. Finally, we will directly observe 30 adults to investigate the ways people with ID use the internet and the safety steps they take while online. We will observe participants, through the development and use of an interactive app, where different online scenarios will be explored, and a “think aloud” observational assessment.
REC name
London - Camberwell St Giles Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
21/LO/0251
Date of REC Opinion
11 May 2021
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion