Paralympic star Rowan Crothers revealed cruel online abuse and backs social media ban

Paralympic gold medallist Rowan Crothers supports Australia's social media ban – revealing for the first time how relentless online bullying as a teenager left him isolated and struggling with his mental health.

EXCLUSIVE: Paralympic gold medallist Rowan Crothers has revealed for the first time how relentless online bullying as a teenager left him isolated and struggling with his mental health — and why he supports Australia’s social media ban.

Born 15 weeks premature and living with cerebral palsy, Crothers joined the Australian swim team at just 15, where he was immediately exposed to both adoration and criticism.

“I was active on social media when I made my first Australian team. Having fans and a platform at such a young age was cool, but I also got a lot of hate and abuse online,” he said.

“Strangers on the internet didn’t understand my disability; they saw me as a person who looked ‘normal’ and labelled me a cheat.

“Or they chose only to see me for my disability, calling me all kinds of horrible slurs.”

Australian Paralympian Rowan Crothers has revealed for the first time how the relentless online bullying as a teenager affected him. Picture: Getty Images

However, the 28 year old said the abuse didn’t stop in his teens — and instead followed him well into adulthood.

“I had serious battles with my mental health in my senior years of school, isolated myself from real-life friends and family, and all attempts to report or block the haters failed,” he said.

“I didn’t understand what was truly important in my life, so instead I tied all of my self-worth to a platform built on maximising engagement, which in my case, was largely negative.”

Crothers said he has long relied on technology because of difficulties with handwriting caused by his disability — but says social media became a dangerous environment for young people like him.

Paralympian Rowan Crothers says social media became a dangerous environment for young people like him – and supports the social media ban. Picture: Adam Head

“The underage social media limits are a great thing,” he said.

“They will give vulnerable children more time and space to build healthier connections with others in their communities, without being exposed to the toxicity and vitriol that exists everywhere online.

“I hope to see social media and digital media companies start designing their services with much greater safeguarding and protections for all users.”

And despite his extraordinary sporting achievements, Crothers said his greatest fulfilment comes from real-world relationships — something he wants teens to now prioritise as the social media ban soon comes into effect.

“With all of my success in sport, the one thing that has meant more to me than any medal is the friends I have and the communities I’m a part of,” he said.

“My biggest tip for teens is to find a passion or hobby, and look for opportunities to connect with others in real life who share the same interests.”

“Those connections, built not on circumstance or technology but genuine shared interest, will bring more happiness than any notification on a social media app.”

Originally published as Paralympic star Rowan Crothers revealed cruel online abuse and backs social media ban