1. Autism and Social Media -
Developing New Connections
Avinash Patil, Social Media and Communities Manager, The National Autistic Society

2. What is Social Media?
“Social Media is the democratisation by which anyone can become a consumer or
publisher of content through online channels. It enables people to share information
and engage in a global real-time conversation.” (Avinash Patil)​
“Social Media is not about what each one of us does or says, but about what we do
and say together, worldwide, to communicate in all directions at any time, by any
possible (digital) means.” (Michelle Chmielewski – Synthesio)​
“Social Media is digital content and interaction that is created by and between
people.” (Sam Decker – Mass Relevance)

3. Different flavours…
 Large Social Networks – Facebook, Linkedin
 Public Microblogging and Blogging Platforms – Twitter, Tumblr, Wordpress
 Video Sharing and Discussion Platforms – YouTube, Vimeo, DailyMotion
 Photosharing sites – Instagram, Flikr
 Direct Messaging – Skype, Whatsapp, Snapchat, Line, Kakaotalk
 Forums – NAS Community Forum, Network Autism​, Aspievillage,Wrongplanet

4. Staggering Numbers!
Facebook
 1.4 billion active users – 50% every day
 71% of adult internet users
 20 million people “Like” pages every day
Twitter
 320 million active users worldwide
 500 million tweets every day

5. A world of social connections
• Map of Facebook connections around the world in 2010 – Imagine what it is now!

6. Why do autistic people use Social Media?
Challenges with social communication
• Face-to-face communication
• Eye contact and body language
• Sustaining conversation
• General difficulties making and maintaining friendships
Social Media provides new options which address these
challenges

7. Why do autistic people use Social media?
Social Communication
Social Interaction Social Imagination
Addressing the Triad of Impairments
Sensory Challenges
Text based and visual communication
• More direct and literal
Clearer understanding of context and rules
• NAS Community rules
More time to process and respond
Often less overwhelming than physical
social situations
• No need to interpret body language or
facial expression
Always on

8. Why do autistic people use Social Media?
64%
22.10%
5.20%
3.90% 3.90%
Social Engagement and Common Connection
Entertainment
No specific reason
Business and Work
Keeping in touch with friends and relatives
 Most autistic people use Social Media for
Social Engagement and Common
Connection
 Find friends or romantic partners
 Option that did not exist before
Source: Jemma Byrne, Autism and Social
Media: An exploration of the use of
computer mediated communications by
individuals on the autism spectrum,
University of Glasgow, Scottish Autism

9. Democratisation and Social Change
 Social Media has been used successful for rapid Social change
• Voice to the Voiceless – People are part of the collective conversation
• Arab Spring 2011-2012 utilised it effectively to challenge and oust
oppressive regimes
 Access was less defined by Sociological factors like class but rather
technical ability and an internet connection
 Technology for capturing and sharing moments cheap and accessible to a
mass-market

10. Democratisation and Social Change
• Spikes occur before and during important events including straight after a
supposed internet black out

11. Democratisation and Social Change
If the Arab Spring countries can achieve this level of action and social change
imagine what the autism community can achieve?

12. Creative Self-Expression and Identity Freedom
Exploring of different identities and personas
Could help with Social Imagination and put themselves in others’
shoes
Share only what they want to share when they want
Share experiences and advice
 Freedom to be creative and share passions with others
• Art
• Blogging
• Music

13. Creative Self-Expression and Identity Freedom
Aspie World is a UK
Vlogger on the autism
spectrum
• Quirky and fun
look
• Practical advice
• Experience
• 5,490 subscribers

14. Advocacy and Awareness
Public discussions and blogs increase
awareness in the public
In 2014 ‘What is autism’ was the 6th most
search term in ‘What is’ category on
Google

15. Connectedness, Emotions and Empathy
Social Media offers new opportunities for a feeling of
connectedness
Social interactions such as likes and Emoji provide discreet
ways of conveying affinity and a wide range of emotions
‘Likes’ can also be used as icebreakers in conversations

16. More control within interactions
Posts and response can be well thought out and edited
Logical sequential progression of conversation vs unpredictable face-to-face
communication
Understanding social consequences
• If something went wrong possible to go back and learn
• Viewing how others interact from a safe distance
Maintaining relationships and compartmentalising
• E.g. Using lists on Facebook
• Greater understanding of contextual communication

17. Like minds and special interests
Leverage special interests to reach other like minded people
Easily searchable niche communities
• E.g. Photography, Technology, Gardening
Instant connection and commonality through shared special
interests
Reach other autistic people with similar experiences
• Less isolation

18. Large Existing Autism Communities
Wrong Planet - 80,000+ registered users
• Set up 2004
• Tips and practical advice driven by autistic people
NAS Community – 13,276 registered users
• Set up 2010
• Peer-to-Peer support
• Sign-posting to relevant information on NAS website
• Anonymous – leads to freedom to discuss difficult topics

19. Opportunities to provide advice and support
Autistic people can share experience and tips
Increasingly young people’s first stop for support is online channels when talking about
self-harm
• Source: YoungMinds and the Cello group study
Possible to identify and provide support to vulnerable people on Social Media
NAS Social Media
• Support touchpoint for our community
Professionals have greater visibility of the challenges of autistic people
• Be where you’re needed and provide support

20. Good examples of sharing experience and
knowledge

21. Risks
Deception
 Autistic people could be more susceptible
 However, people on our community are extra sensitive to this
• More on guard for it
Cyberbullying and Trolling
 Like in face-to-face interactions Autistic people could experience negative behaviours for being different
 Potentially as isolating as face-to-face
 Loss of control of shared information and further comments made by others
 However, it may be easier to disconnect and find other opportunities
 No immediate physical threat

22. No substitute for face-to-face
 Social Media provides direct communication on their own terms
 Social Media use should be used in conjunction with face-to-face
interactions
 Icebreaker which leads to a real world opportunities
 Professionals should explore more opportunities of how their support can
leverage Social Media with what they already do face-to-face.

23. No substitute for face-to-face
• Meetup.com is a Social
Network that facilitates real
world meeting of people with
likeminded interests
• Autistic people are already
using sites like to bridging
online and face-to-face
communication

24. Questions?
What are your experiences of Social
Media?
Given what you have seen how do you
think Social Media could be used to help
you in your field?

25. Last word from Katie Walters, Slam Poet on
the autism spectrum

26. Connect with us
Follow us: @autism
Like us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/NationalAutisticSociety
Connect with me on Linkedin:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/avinashpatil01
Or go old school and email me at avinash.patil@nas.org.uk