Engl. transl.: Do young people with asperger syndrome or intellectual disability use social media and are they cyberbullied or cyberbullies in the same way as their peers?

Background: The aim of the present study is to explore how youth with an intellectual disability or Asperger syndrome use new technologies and social media in comparison with their peers without disabilities. Method: Participants were 181 adolescents with a mean age of 16 years old (SD=3.7) who completed the “Cyber-aggression Questionnaire for Adolescents”, the “Cyber-victimization Questionnaire for Adolescents” and a questionnaire on social media and new technologies. Results: Percentages of use of new technologies (61% tablets, 93% computers, 97% mobiles) are similar among groups but adolescents with Asperger syndrome or intellectual disability have been using them since more recent times and their uses are more limited. They also use social media less; the group with Asperger syndrome uses them the least. There are no significant differences in the frequency of cyberbullying. Conclusion: Despite using social media less, the frequency of cyberbullying is similar to their peers. Besides, the observed prevalence of cyberbullying is higher than that mentioned in previous studies in which informants were not the youths themselves.

Although our study found no statistically significant differences between the three groups, in terms of the prevalence of cyberbullying and the quantity of unpleasant situations experienced, the authors warn to bear in mind specific aspects regarding people with ID or AS: "Despite the fact that they have less access to new technologies and social media and more restricted use, the percentages on cyberbullying are similar to the neurotypical population" (Bergara-Iglesias et al., 2019: 35). The authors warn that the progressive incorporation of these groups into the digital world without any intervention tailored to their specific needs will lead to a considerable increase in these percentages.