According to popular belief and political leaders, social media is causing unprecedented harm to young people, leaving them isolated and at high risk of developing mental illnesses. In practice, politicians have acted on this belief by introducing and passing laws at the state and federal level designed to keep kids and teenagers off social media. Policymakers often cite inconclusive research to justify these laws. But even if that research was more consistent and substantial, policymakers overlook the concentrated harms that will ensue if certain teens demographics are separated from social media access. Look no further than damage that would be done by separating teens on the autism spectrum from social media.
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition that covers a wide range of characteristics and support needs, ranging from those with low support needs to those with high support needs. It is often characterized by challenges to social communication and repetitive behavior. These differences in communication change how teens with ASD communicate and relate to others—sometimes making it difficult for those with ASD to interpret social cues and build friendships.
Fortunately, social media access has been shown to improve communication and friendships for those on the autism spectrum. One study on friendship satisfaction among teenagers with ASD and their use of social media found that social media use is associated with higher friendship quality satisfaction among teenagers with ASD compared to no association between the two for neurotypical teenagers. Another study on adults with ASD found that moderate use of Facebook was associated with increased happiness.
Social media has clear benefits for individuals with ASD. In practice, social media makes socializing easier for those on the autism spectrum by reducing reliance on non-verbal cues and sensory issues that people with ASD find difficult. This helps to level the playing field and allows teens with ASD a better opportunity to build their social networks.
Unfortunately, individuals with ASD are often overlooked in the social media debates. For example, Florida passed a law banning anyone under the age of fourteen from creating a social media account and required parental permission for minors aged fourteen and fifteen to make accounts. Alabama and Oklahoma recently tried to ban users younger than sixteen from making a social media account. Fortunately, Texas recently missed a deadline to effectively bar anyone under eighteen from creating a social media account.
As the debate rages on, autistic teens will be the unintended victims of adult tech panic. Measures designed to keep teenagers off social media will cause real damage to teenagers on the autism spectrum and their quality of life. It will also isolate them from their peers. If the goal is to protect kids’ mental health, policymakers should consider alternatives measures that do not harm kids on the autism spectrum.
Trey Price wrote this piece for the American Consumer Institute, a nonprofit education and research organization. For more information about the Institute, follow us on X @ConsumerPal.