News
Many people who are blind or have low vision are calling on social media giants to embrace stricter guidelines and protections against circulating harmful content in the wake of a new trend gaining popularity online.
The viral social media hashtags #BlindChallenge and #BlindKidChallenge prompts users without disability to imitate, or rather mock, members of the blind community in the name of entertainment, audience viewership and social media engagement, according to Guide Dogs NSW/ACT.
Powerd Media spoke with General Manager of Social Change at Guide Dogs NSW/ACT, Tamara Searant, who says the trend is a step backward for the blind community.
“People are just disgusted,” she explains. “It really is a reflection of ignorance, unfortunately, but it's also disregard for people who are blind or have low vision.”
According to Vision Australia, 2.5% of Australians are blind or have low vision, while approximately 77.9% of the population use social media, as reported by Meltwater.
Blind Australian of the Year 2024, Courtney Webeck, who is also the reigning Australian Women’s B2 Singles Tennis Champion, issued a statement via Guide Dogs about her experience as someone with disability impacted by the callous challenge.
People who are blind or have low vision live full, capable, and independent lives.
Courtney Webeck
Joining forces with Guide Dogs, Ms Webeck called for strengthened protections for people with disability and ensure removal of harmful content from social media platforms.
“Turning our experiences into a social media challenge completely misses the reality of what we can do, and the strength it takes to navigate the world without sight,” Ms Webeck explains.
Guide Dogs General Manager for Social Change, Ms Searant, gave advice on how people can report the discriminatory practice from the ground up via their Respect is More Important Than Views campaign page.
“We have put on our campaign page a call to action for people to be able to jump on it. There is clear information on what the issue is, and some template letters on how to write to…raise awareness to their local MP or even the eSafety commissioner.”
The Guide Dogs NSW/ACT employee argues the need for protections against discriminatory behaviour online.
There is a need to be able to support the eSafety Commissioner in being able to hold platforms accountable when it comes to this kind of discriminative behaviour.
Tamara Searant
Ms Searant believes social media is a real opportunity for connection, creativity and inclusion, not an avenue for mocking people.
“It’s so important that we start thinking about what we are doing online and how we create a community that is respectful, inclusive, and kind.”
Guide Dogs NSW/ACT told Powerd Media that social media companies have been made aware of the #BlindChallenge and #BlindKidChallenge, and are looking into the issue.