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Two autistic people radicalised online the state of social media

RachelO

This post may seem strange to post on an autism forum. I think this issue can affect all online and it is a growing issue.

The internet can have its good and bad elements.

Social media influencers want fame, subscribers, likes and followers. I can understand as it is their job.. COVID made people use social media more, but now it is having an effect where many people want popularity, likes, followers and subscribers and if they don't get them it is having an effect on their self esteem and they can inflict this faulty psychology of why it is needed on others sometimes too when they ask people to give them likes. If somebody reads something if interested that is what it is meant to be for, but basing self worth on likes and followers is not good for self identity and a sense of self worth. I know some people may use social media for friendships, but there is this culture growing where we are moving in the direction where people are becoming destabilised in their self esteem from its use.  I myself am a very quiet person and can find some aspects of social media difficult.

Then you can get people who make themselves a spokesperson for something when they are not trained for the role and can do harm, such as Skinny endorsement by social media influencers who give faulty information about dieting and vulnerable people can stumble on this There has been teenagers who got worse by looking at some of this information. One was called Molly Russell. . Children too can do copycat things which they learn from online that are dangerous to do in the real world. Such was the case of a 17 year old Axel  Rudakubana who was diagnosed with autism who murdered three young girl's triggered partly by being influenced online. You can see the case from the following link.

https://www.cps.gov.uk/mersey-cheshire/news/teenager-jailed-killing-three-children-dance-class-and-trying-kill-ten 

Also, there was the case of Alina Burns who was 19  anorexic and autistic who attempted to murder a man and only recently got a computer about two months and become a member of the Neo Nazi’s. The father said that she was vulnerable and dropped out of school.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cr7pg7nk53go

Do you think there is anything in it that makes an autistic more vulnerable to radicalism online. There are many crimes committed by neurotypical people.

Then with some people it is hard to read their motives why are they sharing, go with your instincts. Be careful about being exploited online if you are vulnerable to this.

Some people can troll online because it is more unregulated and behind a screen.

Groups that are dangerous should have a limited platform online. I also Article 18 of the UN Declaration of freedom of thought and religion, but there are limit if it a real risk to health and safety and the liberty of others.

I thought that we might discuss a difficult topic. Countries like Australia do not permit under 16's to use social media.

Parents

  • There are some reasons, why some autistic individuals may be more prone to radicalisation. For example being the loner whole life and suddenly falling into a group, who has an agenda and the rule is simple- follow the agenda snd you are one of us! For many ND people it can feel life changing and wonderful feeling of belonging. Additionally as it states in tge dx criteria, we struggle to "read between the lines", we don't get people's intentions and take everything literally. This is another point to why autistic people may be more vulnerable in such environment. But on the other hand, especially if someone is highly analytical, they may figure out on their own, that it's wrong or at least not worth to get busy with. I remember I almost got radicalised by right wingers in my country (12 years ago or so). I used to believe, what these people were saying, to the point, where it became dangerous.  There were demonstrations of neo *** in the streets and they were kind of protected by the police. And then I started thinking about it all critically. I've never took part in any such demonstration, it was too much for me. But I started thinking, that they just created a group and imagined themselves a thread and enemy just to gain some power, money, manipulate others and find some people,  like me, who have no friends and belong nowhere, to offer them a perspective, some sense of belonging and the only thing they required was loyalty. And I thought- why they demonise other people from other parts of the world. Every human.is human! 

    It's a difficult topic, I think there might be some points where an autistic person may be more vulnerable to this than an NT, but definitely not all autistic people are that way. Many of us have special interest,  so as I'm busy with space and planets, such groups and political views are morealien to me, than little green men.

  • in reply to Alien0n3arth

    Thank you for your insight. They are really interesting points and helpful to read. I was thinking as well that some autistic people may be could may be have a special interest in an extremist group and may be prepared to give a lot for it. 

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