Online social media poses opportunities and risks in autistic youth: implications for services from a qualitative study
BackgroundAutistic people are vulnerable to developing mental health problems due to their difficulties in managing social situations and interpersonal relationships. The popular online social media (OSM) can be a potential solution to these concerns for their social lives as it allows non-face-to-f...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2023-06-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Psychiatry |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2023.959846/full |
| _version_ | 1797791149684948992 |
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| author | Phil Wai Shun Leung Phil Wai Shun Leung Shirley Xin Li Eleanor Anne Holroyd Carmen Sze Oi Tsang William Chi Wai Wong |
| author_facet | Phil Wai Shun Leung Phil Wai Shun Leung Shirley Xin Li Eleanor Anne Holroyd Carmen Sze Oi Tsang William Chi Wai Wong |
| author_sort | Phil Wai Shun Leung |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | BackgroundAutistic people are vulnerable to developing mental health problems due to their difficulties in managing social situations and interpersonal relationships. The popular online social media (OSM) can be a potential solution to these concerns for their social lives as it allows non-face-to-face social interactions, however it remained unclear how this group is using these online platforms. This study explored their experiences of using online social media, and their perceived benefits and risks associated with this use.MethodQualitative data was collected through in-depth face to face interviews. We recruited 13 autistic young adults who were with normal intelligence from two community centers in Hong Kong. Interviews were conducted in a semi-structured format by experienced clinical psychologist and social workers.ResultsFour themes were identified from the data, namely: (1) Paradox of using OSM to supplement social needs; (2) Unpleasant social interactions in the online environment; (3) Restricted and repetitive pattern of interest leading to troubles in OSM use, and; (4) Privacy and personal safety issues. The results suggested that while OSM could be a useful tool for our participants to connect with existing friends and to meet new ones, their limitations, such as difficulties in understanding languages and social interaction as well as restricted patterns of interests could potentially put them at risk, including interpersonal conflicts, cyber-bullying, financial scams, as well as unwanted sexual experiences. These experiences not only paradoxically increased their sense of loneliness and their distance from others, but also resulted in a negative impact on their mood and functioning.ConclusionThis qualitative study provided some insights into the OSM use among autistic young adults. OSM could be a useful tool to overcome potential limitations in social interactions, but at the same time it could potentially bring detrimental consequences. In order to maximize the benefits of online social networking, there is a need for timely guidance and support to use OSM among autists, and for psychoeducation to promote awareness, and enable adequate skills and behaviors attainment associated with safe OSM use. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-13T02:14:42Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-2122e4f14607474a8ff7ec669b9a2407 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-0640 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-13T02:14:42Z |
| publishDate | 2023-06-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Psychiatry |
| spelling | doaj.art-2122e4f14607474a8ff7ec669b9a24072023-06-30T15:28:10ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychiatry1664-06402023-06-011410.3389/fpsyt.2023.959846959846Online social media poses opportunities and risks in autistic youth: implications for services from a qualitative studyPhil Wai Shun Leung0Phil Wai Shun Leung1Shirley Xin Li2Eleanor Anne Holroyd3Carmen Sze Oi Tsang4William Chi Wai Wong5Department of Family Medicine and Primary Care, LKS Faculty of Medicine, School of Clinical Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, ChinaHaven of Hope Christian Service, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, ChinaDepartment of Psychology, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, ChinaFaculty of Health and Environmental Sciences, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New ZealandHaven of Hope Christian Service, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, ChinaDepartment of Family Medicine and Primary Care, LKS Faculty of Medicine, School of Clinical Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, ChinaBackgroundAutistic people are vulnerable to developing mental health problems due to their difficulties in managing social situations and interpersonal relationships. The popular online social media (OSM) can be a potential solution to these concerns for their social lives as it allows non-face-to-face social interactions, however it remained unclear how this group is using these online platforms. This study explored their experiences of using online social media, and their perceived benefits and risks associated with this use.MethodQualitative data was collected through in-depth face to face interviews. We recruited 13 autistic young adults who were with normal intelligence from two community centers in Hong Kong. Interviews were conducted in a semi-structured format by experienced clinical psychologist and social workers.ResultsFour themes were identified from the data, namely: (1) Paradox of using OSM to supplement social needs; (2) Unpleasant social interactions in the online environment; (3) Restricted and repetitive pattern of interest leading to troubles in OSM use, and; (4) Privacy and personal safety issues. The results suggested that while OSM could be a useful tool for our participants to connect with existing friends and to meet new ones, their limitations, such as difficulties in understanding languages and social interaction as well as restricted patterns of interests could potentially put them at risk, including interpersonal conflicts, cyber-bullying, financial scams, as well as unwanted sexual experiences. These experiences not only paradoxically increased their sense of loneliness and their distance from others, but also resulted in a negative impact on their mood and functioning.ConclusionThis qualitative study provided some insights into the OSM use among autistic young adults. OSM could be a useful tool to overcome potential limitations in social interactions, but at the same time it could potentially bring detrimental consequences. In order to maximize the benefits of online social networking, there is a need for timely guidance and support to use OSM among autists, and for psychoeducation to promote awareness, and enable adequate skills and behaviors attainment associated with safe OSM use.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2023.959846/fullonline social mediaautismqualitative researchyoung adults (18–29 years)social functioningonline scam |
| spellingShingle | Phil Wai Shun Leung Phil Wai Shun Leung Shirley Xin Li Eleanor Anne Holroyd Carmen Sze Oi Tsang William Chi Wai Wong Online social media poses opportunities and risks in autistic youth: implications for services from a qualitative study Frontiers in Psychiatry online social media autism qualitative research young adults (18–29 years) social functioning online scam |
| title | Online social media poses opportunities and risks in autistic youth: implications for services from a qualitative study |
| title_full | Online social media poses opportunities and risks in autistic youth: implications for services from a qualitative study |
| title_fullStr | Online social media poses opportunities and risks in autistic youth: implications for services from a qualitative study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Online social media poses opportunities and risks in autistic youth: implications for services from a qualitative study |
| title_short | Online social media poses opportunities and risks in autistic youth: implications for services from a qualitative study |
| title_sort | online social media poses opportunities and risks in autistic youth implications for services from a qualitative study |
| topic | online social media autism qualitative research young adults (18–29 years) social functioning online scam |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2023.959846/full |
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