We are excited to share our most recent publications of the Autistic Adults Online project:
Stigma management strategies of autistic social media users
In this study, we explore how autistic people navigate social interactions on social media. Through analysing their posts and interviews, we identify two main approaches: one focused on sharing information and connecting with others, and another characterized by tentative language as a way of avoiding social threats. Our findings challenge previous assumptions that autistic people do not need to mask in online environments and underscore the need for research and policy efforts to safeguard their social interaction rights in digital spaces.
In this paper, we discuss the challenges autistic adults often encounter on mainstream social media, along with a set of imagined features that represent their vision of how design could better support their social media use. We emphasize the significance of incorporating diverse user perspectives in digital platform design to foster inclusive and supportive online spaces.
For a full account of our research outputs, visit the Resources page.
Autistic Adults Online 