Would you use an autistics only Social media platform?

[SchrodingersMeerkat]

I've been thinking about that, and I think it would be better, and easier to include NT allies.

I was just a bit concerned about NT neurology tourists joining up, but I guess it's no problem really..

An occasional NT parent, teacher, older sibling, etc. or a doctor/med student wanting to learn more about actually interacting with autistic people. These NT neurology safari people could just be blocked and banned.

 

[Mr Allen]

I would possibly use it, although to be honest I've spent most of the first 23 and odd years of my life as NT, till I was diagnosed in October 1999 as having Asperger's, and I do tend to surround myself with, for lack of a better word, "normal" people.

Facebook does have its faults, and Twitter and Instagram are full of people who are so far up their own arse it's not funny.

 

[OrSomething]

I definitely would! I enjoy social media sites and discussing autism, so it would combine two of my interests.

 

[Southern Discomfort]

Why not just start a invite-only group on a site like Facebook?

 

[Full Steam]

Why not just start a invite-only group on a site like Facebook?

Too many reasons to list

Top of the stack being hatred if Facebook.

There are so many things that can be done with a social network that's interest specific,

 

[Panthro]

I would love to join a site like that. I am not really a social media person, but a site like that would make me feel more open towards it.

 

[HappyHermit]

I might sign up, but I'm not sure I would stay. Since the purpose of social media is being social, even if 'just' virtually... I'm not sure I would get much out of it. I like message boards, but message boards tend to be themed, so you have something concrete to discuss. Social media is anything and everything, and usually not very substantial.

You'd also have to believe the people signing up that they're on the spectrum. Many probably wouldn't be. I have a feeling that on a platform that isn't particularly focused and somewhat strictly moderated, too many active faux-autistics would lead to it becoming ordinary social media, or NT sock puppets harassing the autistics who are trying to use the platform as intended.

If it were somewhat closed, it might work - even if any (!) access after sign-up only is a low threshold that might also lead to fewer members.

 

[Butterfly88]

I would join. Isn't this website sort of an autistic social network?

 

[Full Steam]

I would join. Isn't this website sort of an autistic social network?

This is a forum.

A social network is technically different.

Here you have buckets which are individual forums, with posts/threads and replies nested within.

In a social network there is a central feed with all updated or links to updates. The social network is then built with filters to show various parts of the feed, eg only updates from friends. Updates can also be made private, but it's still based on an activity feed.

Social networks are more fluid, fast and uncontrollable than a forum, whereas forums are easier to moderate, often more public and more permanent. Social updates get buried very quickly, so it's more like a chat around a barbecue.

 

[Butterfly88]

This is a forum.

A social network is technically different.

Here you have buckets which are individual forums, with posts/threads and replies nested within.

In a social network there is a central feed with all updated or links to updates. The social network is then built with filters to show various parts of the feed, eg only updates from friends. Updates can also be made private, but it's still based on an activity feed.

Social networks are more fluid, fast and uncontrollable than a forum, whereas forums are easier to moderate, often more public and more permanent. Social updates get buried very quickly, so it's more like a chat around a barbecue.

Oh okay, thank you for explaining.

 

[Emzical]

I think I would probably love it but I don't know if i find it unfair to exclude NT's or other disabilities, mainly a personal matter because I've been left out so much. So yeah, I would use it but i'd expect a backlash of society disagreeing with it because it excludes other sectors and then it would be closed down because we are allowed to be left out but its not morally correct when they are (apparently). I think it would make a much cleaner supportive version of facebook though (especially without the virtue signalling posts and pictures).

 

[monkeyback]

I might use it if I thought it would facilitate meeting some aspies in the real life. I'm newly diagnosed in the UK and I'm kind of curious to see how meeting fellow aspie/autistic people works out.

 

[Bella Pines]

Probably not. I'm don't really socialize with the other aspies I know, in fact I try not to socialize at all. I'll will wait for someone to invent an unsocial network.

 

[pjcnet]

I think I would probably love it but I don't know if i find it unfair to exclude NT's or other disabilities, mainly a personal matter because I've been left out so much. So yeah, I would use it but i'd expect a backlash of society disagreeing with it because it excludes other sectors and then it would be closed down because we are allowed to be left out but its not morally correct when they are (apparently). I think it would make a much cleaner supportive version of facebook though (especially without the virtue signalling posts and pictures).

It's a little controversial and I most definitely don't mean any offence here, but in some situations segregating can isolate certain minorities in my opinion as it's making a point that they're "different" and if they're not different except for something that should be totally irrelevant like the colour of their skin it's in my opinion unnecessary and could even encourage prejudice. For instance when I was working for a local council I found that the Unison trade union have black members only meetings and make a big issue of specifically supporting black people separately with quote "Black members’ representatives", please click here for example. In my opinion there should be equal rights and I am most definitely not racist, but having black members only meetings where white people are normally not allowed to attend is only isolating black people and is making a point that they're black when it shouldn't be an issue in the workplace or in fact anywhere else. Okay I understand there can be a mutual cultural interest, but this isn't in my opinion significantly relevant enough to create such segregation in a place of employment.

It is different in my opinion with people on the autistic spectrum however as even though there also shouldn't be any prejudice we are in fact significantly different from NTs and some of us also have specific support needs. I therefore think it's okay to have services specifically for people who really are significantly different or have a relevant common interest. Even though a social network for people on the autistic spectrum or anything else just for people on the autistic spectrum can still somewhat isolate us from the rest of society, it can also be advantageous to the autistic people using the service. Regarding other minority groups being excluded and any potential backlash, well an autistic charity such as The National Autistic Society doesn't get condemned because they don't also specially help NT people who happen to be in a wheelchair for instance and there's lots of services that are for specific minorities. I don't think anyone should be forcibly excluded from joining, but it is okay to make a social media site that is aimed mainly for autistic people and it's therefore unlikely that many NTs will join unless they have a specific interest in autistic people themselves (similarly to this community, but a social media site will probably have an even higher percentage of people on the autistic spectrum).

If people are joining the site in the hope of making new real life friends or perhaps to find a partner however, then even though a lot of autistic people get on well together, sometimes their traits can also be detrimental to each-other and can cause friction, E.g. one person is over sensitive to noise, usually wants quiet, while the other person shouts because he/she can't control the level of their voice and is unable to stop repeating and going on about things all the time. In this case the person would probably get on better with some NTs and I also don't think autistic people should exclude NTs as potential friends or partners.

 

[Fridgemagnetman]

Probably not. I'm don't really socialize with the other aspies I know, in fact I try not to socialize at all. I'll will wait for someone to invent an unsocial network.

Isn't that just 'the internet'?

 

[pjcnet]

I just found something that might be interesting to take a look at, it's a social networking site for autistic people in the UK setup by the Birmingham charity Autism West Midlands, it's called:


(Please click the image above to find out more)

Since it is mainly only to bring people together in a relatively small area there is still plenty of potential for a national or international site, but it may give you some ideas.

 

[Judge]

Since it is mainly only to bring people together in a relatively small area there is still plenty of potential for a national or international site, but it may give you some ideas.

Indeed.

I have to admit, you brought up a point worth considering. The value of going local as opposed to going internationally. Perhaps allowing for more control, more ways to optimize the process.

Just a thought, anyways.

 

[Full Steam]

Indeed.

I have to admit, you brought up a point worth considering. The value of going local as opposed to going internationally. Perhaps allowing for more control, more ways to optimize the process.

Just a thought, anyways.

I'll bare that in mind.

International and local can exist together using groups, same as FB.

As for excluding people, I can only build for what I know, and what I think is a useful purpose and a gap in the market.

If someone else finds another gap, like people with x disability, they can build their own site.