Dean Clifford was born with a rare skin condition and recently opened up about how cruel people can be online.

The internet is amazing in a lot of ways. These days, we can reach our loved ones with the click of a button, keep in touch with friends in different states or countries, listen to music whenever we want, read the news on our phones, and follow our favorite celebrities on social media.

But while the internet makes life easier and better in some ways, it also has some serious downsides – something Australian-born Dean Clifford, 46, has unfortunately experienced firsthand.

Clifford was born with a rare skin condition called Epidermolysis Bullosa. The condition causes persistent blisters, tears, and wounds on the skin. Most people affected by the condition do not live beyond the age of 30. When Clifford was born, doctors reportedly told his parents he would not make it past the age of 5 – but he beat the odds.

Epidermolysis Bullosa

He does not let the condition limit his life and makes sure to spend time doing the things he enjoys. Unfortunately, people have not always been kind to him, and after recently posting a photo of himself and his mother during a rugby league game, he was met with a wave of cruel comments.

The selfie quickly went viral, and Meta’s AI program reportedly labeled Clifford as being in a “zombie costume.” After receiving hateful comments about his appearance online, Clifford decided to speak out.

“Who would have thought posting a fun photo at a football game with my mum on Friday night would result in so many trolls finding the way my skin looks as something they can try to make fun of. Thanks Facebook #METAAI for sharing my photo without my consent and tagging my the way I look the way you did. It just goes to highlight what why Facebook is quickly becoming completely irrelevant in real life.

“But to the thousands of you who thought they were being smart or having fun at my expense here’s something you may not be aware of.”