Finn
Content Warning: These stories are about violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation and may include references to suicide or self-harming behaviours. They may contain graphic descriptions and strong language and may be distressing. Some narratives may be about First Nations people who have passed away. If you need support, please see Contact & support.
Finn is a young adult with intellectual disability. He told the Royal Commission he has been the victim of cyber bullying.
Finn joined an online robotics community. He and the other subscribers use virtual reality technology to build and control robots. They communicate with each other in live chat rooms and share videos online.
Voluntary moderators – mods – are responsible for ensuring members feel safe and included in the community. They answer questions and offer advice. Mods have the authority to edit or delete other people’s posts.
While Finn was using the platform, another user began to bully him. ‘They were making fun of me and it hurt me a lot.’
Finn reported the bullying to mods, saying ‘I feel so terrible and [believe I have] been treated unfairly’. They did nothing.
Finn then tried to contact the developer of the platform, who didn’t respond. ‘She don’t even care about people with disabilities,’ he said.
It’s not only the robotics community where Finn has experienced online bullying.
It also happens on a well-known global streaming platform for gamers. Players ‘broadcast’ their gameplay by screen-sharing with subscribers. Fans can watch, react and comment in real time.
Finn witnessed an individual bullying other streamers with disability. ‘I tried to stop him and he refused.’
He says streaming platforms should do more to support players with disability as well as hold online bullies ‘accountable for their actions’. He says companies who fail to intervene or prevent cyber bullying should face tough penalties.
Finn hopes for a future where streaming platforms, robot builders and online game developers support people with disability.
Disclaimer: This is the story of a person who shared their personal experience with the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability through a submission or private session. The names in this story are pseudonyms. The person who shared this experience was not a witness and their account is not evidence. They did not take an oath or affirmation before providing the story. Nothing in this story constitutes a finding of the Royal Commission. Any views expressed are those of the person who shared their experience, not of the Royal Commission.