A Critical Review of Literature on Social Media and Developmental Communication Disability: Implications for Future Social Media and Generative AI Research

Abstract

Abstract Purpose of Review The widespread use of social media and recent development and use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) has implications for the advancement of inclusive communication technologies to benefit people with developmental communication disability. This paper synthesises and critiques recent research on social media use in populations with developmental communication disability, discusses the intersection of social media and GenAI that could impact this population, and provides directions for future research. Recent Findings There is encouraging growth in the use of innovative methods to gather the views of people with developmental communication disability on their use of social media, advancing understanding of the risks they face and how they and their supporters manage these risks. However, there continues an underutilization of social media data published by and with people with developmental communication disability and a lack of co-design. Moving beyond patterns and purposes of use, future inclusive and co-designed research with this population should (a) include social media data, whether independently or co-produced with supporters; (b) explore the under-researched legal, ethical, and safety issues; (c) measure the outcomes and impact of social media publication in relation to the user or user group’s emancipation, education, and enablement; and (d) consider the impact of GenAI on social media use for this group. Summary Continued attention to the safe and enjoyable use of social media for all those who wish to use it, and foundational research on the uptake and use of GenAI, will be important to understand and support the advanced communication technology support needs of people with developmental communication disability. To inform future advances in both social media and GenAI for populations with developmental communication disability, future research directions are proposed.