Effects of Social Media on Autistic Individuals
Social media has become part and parcel of most people’s everyday lives. Given our increasingly digitised world, the effects of the existence of such platforms on individuals on the autism spectrum raise interesting questions. As the world continues to change and individuals must adapt to a new way of being, the internet only complicates matters with its ability to bring humans together in previously unavailable ways. The effects of social media on autistic individuals present both unique opportunities and significant dangers.
The Benefits of Social Media on Autistic
Given that each individual is unique, some on the spectrum may benefit from increased access to such media. The traditional social format can often be baffling and frustrating for individuals who struggle to read body language and social cues. This is not to mention the expectations of eye contact, appearing socially engaged, engaging in light or empty speech. With these factors in mind, it is easy to see why some individuals might benefit from such online engagement. Speaking at one’s own pace through messaging can also help ease much of the pressure of social interaction. Not always having to respond right away to the other person can mean the difference between anxiety and enjoyment for the many neurodivergent individuals engaging on these platforms.
For example, when I was 23, I could not figure out how to connect with my peers in school, college, work, or anywhere else. No one understood me, and I never knew when to part lip or engage or what social cues I was looking for. But there was a solace to be had in the special interest forums where I found myself belonging. I could connect with others on Reddit, Discord, or any other platform based on our mutual likes.
Another surprising benefit that might come from increased social media usage is that such platforms script access to communities and groups of individuals who have struggled with the same or similar experiences. With increased access to those who may think or communicate in ‘similar’ ways, the data shows that many autistic people who struggle to feel apart from the rest of the world will soon find their tribe online.
Overall, the effects of social media on autistic individuals have some interesting conclusions that might draw valuable information now and in the future.
Sarah is a 30-year-old woman with autism who believes that her membership in autism-centered social media groups has helped her to embrace her neurodiversity. “Never before did I feel less alone or ‘abnormal,’” she admits. “Finding people who resonate with my experiences, in turn, gave me the confidence to be exactly who I am.”
Recent research has begun to support Sarah’s positive experiences with social media. A 2017 study demonstrated that adolescents with autism developed higher-quality friendships online than in real life. Additionally, a 2018 study found that autistic adults who use Facebook reported feeling “significantly happier.”
For instance, 17-year-old Max had frequent panic attacks at school and suffers from social anxiety on his own. He found a group of autistic gamers who “seemed to know what I was talking about,” he says. “We can focus on the game while chatting about it without having to make eye contact and figure out the hidden body language. Online, I can be who I am.”
These instances underscore the significance of social media and its potential to be an effective and safe space for autistic people to interact, relate, and “fulfil their dreams of developing a positive self-identity.”
The Potential Risks of Social Media on Autistic Individuals: Navigating a Double-Edged Sword
Sad to say, the online world also contains numerous pitfalls that disproportionately affect autistic individuals and their loved ones. From cyberbullying and online predators to permanent digital footprints and privacy violations, the dangers surrounding social media usage are substantial.
Social media has created a haven for individuals with autism to make friends and connect with those who share their experiences. Notably, the dangers of physical social interaction, like making eye contact, considering multiple social cues at once, and time-based communication, are significantly altered online. Interpreting time as much more fluid also permits for increased social retreatment and a more focused conversation.
Quite possibly, the most harrowing cautionary tale I can share is that about the 25-year-old autistic man who solicited explicit images on networking apps, gradually bullied into submission, and then unwittingly let his predators into his home. The psychosexual killer eventually murdered the man, but the young woman he encouraged to participate in the murder with him may have avoided the same fate as the first victim. The sixty-fiver-year-old predator was recently found guilty and awarded two life sentences by a jury. Still, the story’s importance illustrates the potential risks of the virtual relationship.
Sadly, the story is far from being the only one. In another case, a 19-year-old autistic man sent explicit images to a person over Facebook, and eventually, they requested money from him, blackmailing him with the risk of distributing the images. The inherent trustfulness of the man and his relative ease in sharing the pictures illustrate how an inability to understand deceit, combined with a trustful attitude towards any stranger, may create dangerous mismatches with outcomes far from positive.
Additionally, not only sexual exploitation but also manipulation via online platforms to impersonate, bully, threaten or exploit the spectrum of people is on the rise. The case of Gary McKinnon, who was accused of hacking the US government and NASA systems, is reportedly linked to the first two sources of potential development. His possible eagerness to be recognised and lifelong lack of understanding of societal rules and norms may have significantly contributed to the final court ruling.
Another sad story is about 13-year-old Ryan, who was bullied relentlessly by his classmates for being on the spectrum. Every peculiar action of his was videoed, shared online anonymously and made fun of. It is no coincidence he was later diagnosed with extreme anxiety and depression at such an early age.
However, even though people act with bad intentions, the digital platforms’ finality and every user’s life inherency raise the risks imposed on people in the form of posts and multimedia content forever. Thus, they apply to affect everyone’s future professional life and career opportunities. Sarah had that traumatic experience happen to her, and a few weeks ago, she let her potential job slip away as the boss found her obsession with her particular interest, which had not been tamed for many years, extremely inappropriate through the enormous amount of pictures and videos she shared on her Facebook.
Slight masking of autistic traits for brief periods does not exempt one from the risk of long-term anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues. For example, a young man, David, found temporary relief in an online space that rewarded unhealthy coping strategies, exacerbating his self-harm and suicidal tendencies.
Discord and Telegram are online platforms that serve as hubs for online communities. Users can meet and discuss various topics ranging from sharing music and Harry Potter-themed fan club to creating Minecraft, and I NEED A BREAK SO BAD academic support groups.
However, this is only from an outside point of view. Within this virtual reality and the friendly communities, toxic communities also exist. Self-harm, suicide, and sexual content accompanied by hackers make them dangerous to vulnerable individuals.
Online predators use their anonymity to create fake usernames and lure in unsuspecting victims by seeming friendly and understanding. Unfortunately, the real intention is to make the users members of toxic servers or groups where malicious and dangerous content is addressed and normalised. The users must monitor the nature of the servers they join and the topics and contexts of their online communication. Numerous complaints and articles illustrate the prevalent danger of online predators present on various servers, including Discord. Awareness needs to be raised, and more focus should be directed at educating users on these issues to avoid dangerous encounters.
Forging a Balanced Path Forward
Since social media has provided tremendous value to many on the autism spectrum, avoidance cannot be a realistic solution. We should provide people on the spectrum and their families with the knowledge and guidelines they need to make the most of all opportunities provided by the online world. I will discuss the social media safety rules every autistic person should be encouraged to follow and talk about training on internet safety that can provide an adequate safety net and help autists avoid most risks and pitfalls, as well as the experts’ optimistic insights and perspectives on the solution of this problem.
Making its use safer and more beneficial for people with disabilities and addressing the safety issues will make an impactful contribution to this area and help artists and other individuals on the spectrum utilise the most generous opportunities for connection and community building that the virtual world has to offer. The warnings and considerations in this course are for this aim and should help us prepare individuals with serious social and communication difficulties for this extraordinary experience.
