Being Safe on Social Media

Zach's Law

On December 5th 2022, after 2 years of campaigning, it was officially announced that Zach's Law WILL become law in the Online Safety Bill. A huge triumph for the epilepsy community. 

The law will ensure that trolls who target people with epilepsy online, will be bought to justice. Zach, 11 was targeted as part of a malicious online attack by internet trolls in March 2020. These trolls sent flashing images and GIFs to people with epilepsy, with the aim to bring on a seizure. Zach has campaigned since that attack, alongside Epilepsy Society to ensure that people understand the effects of a seizure and how damaging they can be. Zach should be so proud to say that his hard work has paid off and this specific targeting of people online with epilepsy will now be illegal. This is the first specific law introduced to protect people with epilepsy. 

 

A huge congratulations to Zach and the whole team behind Zach's Law!

 

Everyone should be able to use and enjoy social media platforms safely, without it leading to an increased risk of having a seizure. Therefore, for users with some types of epilepsy, we know it's important to be able to understand how to turn off the autoplay on your social media, and avoid some types of video and animated content. We've put this guide together and hope it enables you to stay connected and enjoy social media safely.

If you have experienced a change in seizure activity related to targeted posts on social media, and would like to speak to someone, please get in touch with us here.

Android
  • 'Three lines' menu in top right
  • Click “Settings”
  • Click “Media & Contacts”
  • Click “AutoPlay”
  • Click “On Mobile Data and Wi-Fi Connections”
  • Click “Never Autoplay Videos”

Unable to turn off autoplay on Android

  • Click the Profile icon
  • Click the “Settings” link
  • Under “Account” there select the option “Autoplay videos”
  • Click “Never Autoplay Videos”
  • Go to the Profile page
  • Click the hexagonal icon in the top right
  • Click “Privacy & data”
  • Unselect “Autoplay videos on cellular data” 
  • Open the app and pull down on the home screen
  • Click on the settings gear icon in the top-right corner
  • Scroll down to “Additional Services” and tap on “Manage.”
  • Click the “Travel Mode” button, so the slider turns green
  • Click the Profile icon in the top left-hand corner
  • Click “Settings and privacy”
  • Click “Accessibility”
  • Click “Video Autoplay”
  • Click “Mobile data & Wi-Fi”
  • Click "Never”

YouTube can only turn off autoplaying another video on finishing the first video

  • Click the Profile icon in top-right
  • Click “Settings”
  • Under the “Autoplay” heading you can unselect “Autoplay next video”
Desktop
  • Click the arrow in top right-hand corner
  • Click “Settings & Privacy”
  • Click “Settings”
  • Click “Videos” on the left-hand side
  • “AutoPlay Videos” (off)

Unable to turn off autoplay on desktop

  • Click profile icon
  • Click “Settings & Privacy” under “Account”
  • Open the “Account” tab at the top
  • Click the “Site preferences” option on the left-hand side
  • “Autoplay videos” 
  • Click the drop-down arrow to the right of your profile icon
  • Click “Settings”
  • Click “Privacy and data” on the left
  • Unselect “Autoplay videos on desktop”
  • Open the app and pull down on the home screen
  • Click on the settings gear icon in the top-right corner
  • Scroll down to “Additional Services” and tap on “Manage.”
  • Click the “Travel Mode” button, so the slider turns green
  • Click “More” in the left hand navigation
  • Click “Settings and privacy”
  • Click “Accessibility” under “General”
  • Click “Autoplay”
  • Click “Never”

YouTube can only turn off autoplaying another video on finishing the first video

  • Choose a video
  • To the right of the video there is a toggle to turn off autoplay
iOS
  • 'Three lines' menu in bottom right
  • Click “Settings & Privacy”
  • Click “Settings”
  • Click “Videos & Photos” (under “Media and Contacts”)
  • Click “Never Autoplay Videos”

Unable to turn off autoplay on iOS

  • Click the Profile icon
  • Click the “Settings” link
  • Under “Account” there is the option “Autoplay videos”
  • Go to the Profile page
  • Click the hexagonal icon in the top right
  • Click “Privacy & data”
  • Unselect “Autoplay videos on cellular data” 
  • Open the app and pull down on the home screen
  • Click on the settings gear icon in the top-right corne
  • Scroll down to “Additional Services” and tap on “Manage.”
  • Click the “Travel Mode” button, so the slider turns green
  • Click the Profile icon in the top left-hand corner
  • Click “Settings and privacy”
  • Click “Accessibility”
  • Click “Autoplay”
  • Click “Never”

YouTube can only turn off autoplaying another video on finishing the first video

  • Click the Profile icon in top-right
  • Click “Settings”
  • Under the “Autoplay” heading you can unselect “Autoplay next video”

If you have been targeted on social media with posts intending to cause harm, it's important to report the incident to try and stop it happening to others. We recommend that you follow these steps: 

  1. Screenshot the post or reply 
  2. Hide or delete the post or reply
  3. Block the user
  4. Select 'report' to report the incident to the platform. 

If you would like support on this issue, please get in touch with us here.

 

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