Social use of the internet by autistic adolescents

Author: Maggie Johnson

Because it avoids the in-person cues that make social interaction difficult, social media has become a tool for many autistic individuals, offering a space to form relationships in ways that feel more natural and accessible. Unlike in-person interactions, online communication removes challenges like eye contact and physical processing, making it easier to engage. In the article we discussed, (Using social media to be ‘social’: Perceptions of social media benefits and risk by autistic young people, and parents) one adolescent shared, “It helps you build friendships with individuals around the world,” while another noted that it feels “not as personal, more free to speak out.” Many autistic individuals in the study preferred online spaces or video games for socializing opposed to in-person, as they reduce sensory overload and allow for more controlled interactions. With this, we found value in the use of social media for autistic adolescents to be able to strengthen and build social relationships.
Beyond social media, we mentioned some alternative formats to support autistic individuals in developing social skills. We discussed some of the initiatives we have seen, which involved robots that guided interactions and augmented reality that simulating es real conversations. These sought to provide safe, structured environments for communication practice for autistic adolescents. Some of our team questioned whether online interactions should be seen as a complement rather than a supplement for face-to-face engagement. This brought up the idea that we may be able to use this online socialization as a scaffold for more productive in-person opportunities, like playing Roblox with friends in the same physical space instead of playing solely online.
We additionally analyzed discussed how online and in-person interactions operate under different social rules. While digital spaces provide vital opportunities for autistic individuals to connect, they don’t always translate seamlessly to real-world relationships. The goal may not be to replace one with the other but to find ways to integrate both, ensuring that autistic individuals have access to meaningful, enjoyable social experiences—online and offline.