Autism and Internet Communication

Introduction

The internet can be a great place for autistic people to learn and socialize. Social media can be helpful for creating social connections and finding groups of people with common interests. There are safety considerations for using these resources and guidelines for sharing information that can be helpful for autistic people to feel confident while navigating the internet. 

Benefits of Social Media for Autistic People

Autistic individuals might have challenges or anxiety with in-person social interaction (Gillespie-Smith et al., 2021). Emerging research suggests that autistic individuals prefer using social media more than non-autistic individuals (Hassrick et al., 2021). Autistic people often use the internet for social support. In some cases, social media can create “safe spaces” for autistic individuals to create friendships. Social media is especially useful for autistic people to initiate contact with new people and autistic people have reported that interactions on social media are easier than in real life (Hassrick et al., 2021;Gillespie-Smith et al., 2021). This is because social media gives autistic people more control over how they talk to people and removes some of the in-person barriers to communication that autistic people face (Hassrick et al., 2021). Social media takes away some of the more distracting elements of interaction such as making eye contact. This eases anxiety and discomfort and makes communication less intimidating. There is no need to use non-verbal social cues that you would normally have to use in-person when you are behind a screen (Gillespie-Smith et al., 2021; Kostin, 2022). Although there are many benefits for using social media, this cannot be a complete replacement for in-person communication. There are both benefits and downsides for using social media for communication, and there are some autistic individuals who don’t prefer to use social media (Hassrick et al., 2021). 

Neurodiverse Internet Communities 

Research has found that social media allows autistic people to have a greater sense of identity within the autistic community. (Gillespie-Smith et al., 2021). The internet can be a space for autistic people to find others with similar interests. There are endless social media groups that focus on various interests. Facebook, Reddit, and other social media platforms have groups for autistic people and groups about specific interests. There are apps such as Kaboose that are specifically designed for neurodiverse individuals. Kaboose in particular requires identity verification in order to use the app. Make sure to check privacy and safety settings before using social media websites or apps. 

Safety Considerations

Although the internet can be a great place to find community, it can still have dangers. It is important to know about bullying, scams, and laws related to the internet. 

Cyberbullying is common on the internet and can occur through text, email, social media, and more. This can include cyberstalking, which is when a person repeatedly reaches out after being told to stop. In order to prevent cyberbullying, it is important to only friend people you know and trust and learn how to “unfriend” or “block” people. If cyberbullying does occur, tell a trusted adult. An adult can help you collect screenshots and report the issue to the social media platform. You can also report cyberbullying to the cyberbully’s school. If there is a physical threat, you can call the police (Carr, 2023). 

Internet scams try to target vulnerable populations and scammers are getting more and more creative. There are many types of internet scams, including:

• Phishing: When you are asked to provide private information such as passwords or bank information.
• Identity theft: When your identity is stolen to make purchases or fraudulent acts against you.
• Social engineering: When someone pretends to be someone you know to gain access to your devices.
• Spoofing emails: Emails that look like they are from legitimate sources but are actually scams.

It is important to stay up to date on scams and report them when you come across them (Carr, 2023). 

It is easy to come across inappropriate content online. Coming across this content can be disturbing or cause trauma. Using SafeSearch can be helpful for filtering out disturbing content. You can put web filters on your browser to block inappropriate content. Anti-virus protection can prevent inappropriate pop ups from appearing (Carr, 2023). 

Research shows that it is important for autistic individuals to learn the rules and norms of internet-based sexual communication. Sexual harassment, illegal pornography, sexual catfishing, or asking someone for unwanted sexual interactions are some of the topics that are helpful to go over to protect the individual from getting harassed or getting in legal trouble (Hassrick et al., 2021). 

Here is a great resource for more information about internet-based dating and sexual communication from the Organization for Autism Research: https://researchautism.org/self-advocates/sex-ed-for-self-advocates/online-relationships-and-safety/

Sharing Information

It is important to be careful when sharing information, both in-person and online. Here are some guidelines for sharing information (Carr, 2023).

• Emails: Share with someone you just met and would like to get to know better. Emails can be shared on secure websites or job applications.
• Phone number: You can share your phone number with someone you already know and are close with. You can also share your phone number for professional or safety reasons.
• Address: Only share your address for people you are close with and trust.
• Bank information: Only share this with a bank teller or for direct deposit or bills.
• Debit card: Never share this with people! Only put this into secure websites to make purchases.
• Social media: You can share this with friends and family or acquaintances you would like to know better 

It is important to discuss your own personal boundaries about sharing information with a trusted adult (Carr, 2023). 

Conclusion

The internet can be a great space for autistic individuals to make friends and find a community of people with similar interests. It is important to consider safety when using the internet. It can be helpful for parents, teachers, and other professionals to teach autistic individuals how to navigate the internet safely. This can allow autonomy while still being safe. Research shows that the best conditions for teaching autistic individuals about internet safety is having a relationship that is warm, friendly, and confidential. This can help the individual have more confidence while navigating the internet. (Kostin, 2022). The levels of protection that are put in place will depend on the age of the individual, so it is important to consult with professionals for advice on allowing a child access to the internet. 

References

Carr, S. (2023, April). Promoting internet safety among autistic users https://centerontransition.org/documents/publications/Promoting%20Internet%20Safety%20Among%20Autistic%20Users.pdf

Find your tribe. Kaboose. (2024, September 4). https://www.kaboose.app/

Gillespie-Smith, K., Hendry, G., Anduuru, N., Laird, T., & Ballantyne, C. (2021). Using social media to be ‘social’: Perceptions of social media benefits and risk by autistic young people, and parents. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 118, 104081. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ridd.2021.104081

Hassrick, E. M., Holmes, L. G., Sosnowy, C., Walton, J., & Carley, K. (2021). Benefits and risks: A systematic review of information and communication technology use by autistic people. Autism in Adulthood, 3(1), 72–84. https://doi.org/10.1089/aut.2020.0048

Kostin, I. A. (2022). Internet safety for schoolchildren and adults with autism spectrum disorders: Vulnerability and areas of Assistance. Education of Children with Special Needs, 11–18. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-13646-7_2 

Online relationships and safety. Organization for Autism Research. (2022, October 27). https://researchautism.org/self-advocates/sex-ed-for-self-advocates/online-relationships-and-safety/