AMANDA HYNAN FINAL THESIS PDF

“being able to be independent and having the freedom to control my own
destiny are the most important things to me” (Rackensberger 2006, cited by
McNaughton et al. 2012, p.51).
Using the internet and online social media can also support self-determination in
terms of employment. O’Keefe et al. (2007), through focus group discussions with
people who use AAC, discovered finding jobs was one research area they felt should
be prioritised. McNaughton, Light and Arnold (2002) found employment
opportunities for people who use AAC could be improved by being able to use the
internet, as employers rated this as a valuable skill. Benefits of employment for
people who use AAC are increased social interaction, personal enjoyment and
financial gains (McNaughton, Light & Gulla, 2003) but transportation needs can be a
major barrier (Magill-Evans, Galambos, Darah & Nickerson, 2008). Being able to use
the internet and online social media may offer opportunities to people who use AAC
in terms of employment by overcoming the need to travel (McNaughton & Arnold,
2010).
2.4.8. Potential risks within online environments
Alongside the opportunities for enriching friendship networks, there are concerns of
harm for young people. On 11 th August 2013 the BBC news website (BBC News
2013) reported on a forthcoming survey (due for publication in November 2013) that
has been carried out by the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children
(NSPCC). The BBC reported the survey contains information from 1,024 11 to 16
year olds and showed one in five children who use social networking sites has
suffered a negative experience during the last year with bullying and trolling listed as
the most common bad experiences (BBC News, 2013). Livingstone et al. (2011)
discuss the issue of risk compared to actual harm and say increased use of the internet
correlates with higher exposure to risk. They found on average 21% of 11-16 year
olds had seen potentially negative online content but many children did not report
feeling harmed by it. Cyber bullying was fairly uncommon but young people said they
found it very upsetting. The survey also revealed 34% of 9-16 year olds had added
people they had not met face-to-face to their address books, but that it was extremely
rare for an unaccompanied meeting offline to occur and even rarer for this to result in
a negative outcome. Conclusions drawn by Livingstone et al. were that reducing
52