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Online social connections and Internet use among people with intellectual disabilities in the United Kingdom during the COVID-19 pandemic

Research output: Contribution to Journal/MagazineJournal articlepeer-review

Published
  • Sue Caton
  • Chris Hatton
  • Amanda Gillooly
  • Edward Oloidi
  • Libby Clarke
  • Jill Bradshaw
  • Samantha Flynn
  • Laurence Taggart
  • Peter Mulhall
  • Andrew Jahoda
  • Roseann Maguire
  • Anna Marriott
  • Stuart Todd
  • David Abbott
  • Stephen Beyer
  • Nick Gore
  • Pauline Heslop
  • Katrina Scior
  • Richard P Hastings
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<mark>Journal publication date</mark>31/05/2024
<mark>Journal</mark>New Media and Society
Issue number5
Volume26
Number of pages25
Pages (from-to)2804-2828
Publication StatusPublished
Early online date6/05/22
<mark>Original language</mark>English

Abstract

Having a disability, in particular, an intellectual disability, is associated with Internet non-use. This article explores how people with intellectual disabilities used the Internet across the United Kingdom during the COVID-19 pandemic. In April to May 2021, 571 adults with intellectual disabilities were interviewed. Participants most commonly used the Internet for being with family and friends, social media or doing online activities with other people. People who lived with family were the most likely to use social media; people who lived with other people with intellectual disabilities were the least likely. People who self-reported as not lonely were more likely to use the Internet for online activities with others and play video games with others. Social connections were identified as the best thing about the Internet. Many participants chose not to identify a worst thing about Internet use, while others reported issues with technology, online harm and threats to well-being.