Scope reveals shocking levels of online trolling experienced by disabled people

• Three in ten disabled people (29 per cent) have experienced bullying or trolling online.
• More than half (53 per cent) have seen negative comments about disabled people or disability in general.
• Younger people are the hardest hit group with almost half of 18- to 34-year-olds enduring negative comments online.

The disability equality charity Scope has released new research conducted through Opinium Ltd that lifts the lid on the scale of online abuse and trolling that disabled people face.

As part of the biggest ever survey of disabled peoples’ experience of negative attitudes, 2,912 disabled people told us specifically about their social media and gaming experiences:

• More than half of disabled people (53 per cent) have seen negative comments about disabled people or disability on social media or online gaming over the last five years. [1]
• 1 in 3 disabled people (34 per cent) who use social media or game online have experienced people online making negative comments about them and their conditions or impairments [2].
• Worryingly, almost half (47 per cent) of disabled 18- to 34-year-olds have experienced negative comments about disabled people and disability.
• 3 in 10 disabled people (29 per cent) have experienced targeted online bullying or trolling because they are disabled or have conditions or impairments [3].

Scope publishes these new findings as comedian Rosie Jones shares her own experiences of online hate in a Channel 4 documentary.

The charity is calling for social media companies, regulators and authorities step up and come down hard on hate and abusive behaviour.

James Taylor, Director of Strategy at disability equality charity Scope, said:

"Social media can be brilliant for disabled people, enabling us to share our stories and connect with others all over the world.

"But too often disabled people receive abuse, experience bullying and are trolled because of who they are. Our research has found it’s incredibly common, and easy, for people to post anonymous horrific comments, ableist abuse and hurtful remarks.

"The consequences can be devastating, making the places where we want to feel safe the complete opposite. It’s also devastating for society, reinforcing outdated attitudes and prejudices.

"One in four of us are disabled in the UK and we all deserve to feel safe online. We need to see far greater action from social media companies, regulators and authorities to tackle the hate and abusive behaviour posted on their platforms."

Disabled people told Scope what had affected them most on social media:

• "Being told online that I need to buck my ideas up and stop scrounging off the state. Made me feel devalued and rejected."
• "A neighbour made a social media post about me saying I’ve no idea about mental health illness and I’m faking."
• "On Twitter people often tweet horrible things about disabled people."
• "Being bullied by people online for having depression. Made me feel awful and inferior."

Notes to editors:

All figures from: Scope research with Opinium Polling Ltd of 4,015 disabled adults between 13th May and 20th June 2022 and weighted to be nationally representative of disabled adults in the UK. The data is then made up of people who said that their experiences happened using social media or online gaming, that sample being 2,912 respondents (Weighted). The time frame on these answers was whether those negative comments had been experienced in the last five years.

Where figures stated are amalgamated:

[1] The percentage of disabled people who said they experienced people making negative comments (social media and online gaming) about disabled people and disability generally - sometimes (29 percent), frequently (16 percent) or all the time (7 percent) in the past 5 years.
[2] Percentage of disabled people who said people online (social media and online gaming) made negative comments about them as a disabled person, or their condition or impairment - sometimes (20 percent), frequently (10 percent) and all the time (4 percent) in the past 5 years.
[3] Percentage of disabled people who said people online (social media and online gaming) exhibited bullying or trolling behaviour towards them because they are disabled or have conditions or impairments - sometimes (16 percent), frequently (9 percent) and all the time (4 percent) in the past 5 years.