A social media content creator who makes videos about his life with a stammer has said he will “never stop,” despite seeing an increase in online abuse.
Sam Bagshaw started uploading videos to TikTok during the first Covid lockdown. He now has half a million followers on the platform and his videos have been liked almost 14 million times.
But the 27-year-old from Rotherham said: “I can be struggling a lot, and it changes the way that I look, because I’m struggling with my face – they find it funny.”
TikTok said it did “not allow hateful behaviour” and worked to remove posts violating its policies.
An update to the TikTok app in May enabled users to post photos in the comments section of videos.
Mr Bagshaw said some people were screen-shotting his videos during moments when he was struggling with his stammer, then uploading them and making fun of his appearance.
He explained: “It’s like a block which feels like it’s trying to stop my words from coming out, it can make you tense up, and it can make you tired.”
He added he had been targeted by adults as well as young people, and the comments made him feel “embarrassed”.
However, Mr Bagshaw said he would not stop creating or uploading videos, which he hoped would encourage others with a stammer to “push and challenge themselves”.
“It would never stop me, I just want to keep on doing as much as I can to help more and more people.”
He said the videos had helped him develop his own confidence, and he now had less anxiety speaking in public, which previously made him “feel down” and unable to go out.
Other TikTok users have praised him online, saying they were “proud” of his progress and calling him an “inspiration”.
“I’ve got a stutter and I literally admire you so much,” said one viewer.
“As a man with a stammer I know exactly the challenge you deal with daily and you’re smashing it – keep it up!” said another.
A TikTok spokesperson said: “TikTok is enriched by the diversity of our community and we do not allow hateful behaviour.
“We’ve removed comments that violate these policies, and more than 94% of content taken down for breaching these rules is removed before it is reported to us.”
