Disability is Political

Social media platforms like Instagram are more than just tools for connection—for the disabled and chronically ill community, they are lifelines. These digital spaces are vital for accessing resources, building community, and organizing advocacy efforts. However, recent changes to Meta’s policies are raising concerns about whether these spaces will remain accessible, safe, and equitable.

As someone who has experienced a great deal of hate, racism, and bullying on Instagram, I know how hostile these platforms can be for marginalized communities. These challenges are now compounded by Meta’s policy shifts, which risk subjecting many of us to even more harm without providing meaningful recourse.

Social Media as a Lifeline

Social media has become indispensable for the disabled and chronically ill community. It serves multiple purposes:

1. A Hub for Resources
   • Social media groups, pages, and creators often provide critical information that fills gaps left by traditional systems, such as tips on navigating healthcare, finding accessible tools, or accessing mutual aid networks.
2. Building Community
   • For many who are housebound or have limited mobility, these platforms are a way to combat isolation. They create spaces where our lived experiences are shared, validated, and celebrated.
3. Advocacy and Mobilization
   • Social media has allowed disabled activists to amplify our voices, raise awareness, and organize movements like #CripTheVote and campaigns for disability justice. Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, these spaces have become even more critical, as online platforms are often the only accessible arenas for connection and activism.

The Obstacles We Already Faced

While social media can be empowering, it is also filled with barriers/obstacles for marginalized communities:

1. Hate Speech and Harassment
   • Disabled and chronically ill users frequently encounter hate speech, ableist slurs, and targeted harassment. My personal experiences with racism, bullying, and relentless trolling on Instagram are not unique—they are part of a larger pattern that makes these platforms feel unsafe.
2. Shadowbanning and Suppression
   • Activists and advocates are often shadowbanned or have their content deprioritized by algorithms, silencing critical conversations. These practices disproportionately affect marginalized creators, limiting visibility for voices that most need to be heard.

Meta’s Recent Changes: What’s at Stake?

The recent changes to Meta’s policies raise significant concerns for the disabled and chronically ill community:

1. Increased Vulnerability
   • Meta’s new policies risk exposing users to even more harassment and hate. Without strong moderation or effective reporting mechanisms, many of us will face these harms with little or no recourse.
2. Impact on Accessibility
   • Updates that deprioritize accessibility features threaten to exclude disabled users from participating fully in these digital spaces.
3. Algorithm Prioritization
   • Content that isn’t commercially profitable but is critical for advocacy and education risks losing visibility. This will further marginalize the voices of disabled creators and advocates.

Why Showing Up Online Matters More Than Ever

As we navigate the next four years and beyond, maintaining our visibility online is essential:

1. Navigating an Increasingly Hostile Landscape
   • The rights of disabled and chronically ill people are under constant threat. Social media platforms must support, not hinder, our ability to occupy space and organize.
2. Demanding Inclusive Digital Spaces
   • Meta and other platforms must prioritize accessibility, safety, and equity. Failing to do so will only deepen the barriers we face. Inclusive platforms benefit everyone, not just marginalized communities.

Meta’s platforms are not a luxury—they are a necessity for the disabled and chronically ill community. They are bridges to resources, tools for advocacy, and spaces for solidarity. Yet, with recent changes, these lifelines are being jeopardized. My experiences with hate, racism, and bullying on Instagram highlight the urgent need for better protections and policies that prioritize safety and accessibility.

In this pivotal moment, it’s more important than ever for us to keep showing up, occupying space, and demanding that our voices remain heard. Meta and other platforms must rise to the challenge by creating digital spaces that are accessible, equitable, and safe for all.