Researchers have been trying to figure out how to effectively use improvements to enhance people’s well-being since the start of the so-called technological revolution due to the rapid expansion in the production of new technologies. Research has made an effort to stay up with how digitally oriented the world has become. It is getting more and more advantageous for evaluation and therapy in these modern technological times to correspond with the technical advancements of society ( Tiarks, et al., 2022).  Social networking has become an essential component of modern life. It is a significant method of learning as well as a source of amusement.  Social media today has a significant cultural impact. Many social media platforms have opened up a variety of opportunities for users to explore, communicate, exchange films, photographs, and information with one another regardless of where they are physically located. Since its debut in 2016, TikTok has become one of the most widely used social media platforms. The fact that the app has over 2 billion mobile downloads in the month of October 2020 indicates that users from all walks of life throughout the world are accepting of it.  The user-friendly design of the program draws in users by making it incredibly simple for them to create and share content with a large and varied audience (Shrivastava, 2023).  This software has grown to be a significant outlet for young users’ expression, offering autistic individuals a voice and a community.  Therefore, this essay talks about how the autistic community used Tiktok as a  support system and to educate the public about autism disorder by creating online content.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental syndrome characterized by social communication difficulties and repetitive sensorimotor behaviors that often occur early in infancy. ASD is further distinguished by maladaptive cognitive functioning and certain behaviors that hinder communication and learning, hence impairing social interaction.  ASD is frequently associated with impairments in cognitive functioning, sensory processing, attention, and learning and generally manifests before the age of three. It is referred to as a spectrum disorder because the many cognitive, social, and behavioral symptoms vary widely amongst people, and the degree of impairment can range from mild to severe. The development of abnormal neurological functioning is multifaceted, including the intricate interaction of genetic and environmental factors, despite the fact that the cause of ASD is yet unknown. That is rather typical. In the world, it is believed that 1 in 100 children have autism. ASD can impact persons of all races, nationalities, and socioeconomic backgrounds. It is also up to four times more frequent in males than in girls (7).  As there is no particular test for ASD, diagnosis might be difficult.  ASD cannot be cured, but it can be controlled with early social and communicative intervention programs, speech therapy, and other treatments. Often, medication is used for concomitant disorders like ADHD and anxiety rather than ASD. Stigma might persist as a result of social misconceptions about ASD. One of the public’s misconceptions is that there are less life skills.  Such stigmatizing beliefs can result in prejudice, rejection, and exclusion from participation in many societal activities.  Moreover, stigma has a detrimental effect on a person’s psychological health and can make it difficult for them to find, access, and maintain participation in therapeutic programs.  Providing factual information, giving specific instructions on how to engage with peers who have ASD, and endorsing positive language, such as people with ASD can go to college and get married, are necessary to change these unfavorable public opinions. On that premise, it may be emphasized that the media is a place where these important changes can be accomplished ( Bakombo et al., 2022).  With the development of social media it helps to spread awareness and educate people about the disorder. Many websites and health forums are available too.

Autistic people produce video content- real life stories.  The public’s primary source of knowledge concerning mental health issues and cognitive neurodisabilities like ASD is the media.  It participates in shaping public opinion as well as serving as a reflection of it.  Although the unfavorable representation of mental diseases in the media has the potential to reinforce stigma and stereotypes, it may also help raise awareness and knowledge of these conditions, which could change how the public views these conditions (Bakombo et al., 2022). With these types of videos people all around the world have a better understanding of a normal life of an autistic person. At the same time people are learning from it. In some ways, TikTok has shifted outsiders’ attitudes and advanced conversations about autism. In TikTok, autistic adults frequently use the hashtag “actuallyautistic” to emphasize that they are communicating from personal personal experiences.  For example, autism-related material created by autistic persons is identified on numerous social media sites by the term or hashtag #actuallyautistic. There is a large community of autistic producers on Tiktok that produce videos on a range of autistic-related subjects. The TikTok films made by autistic people have the potential to reveal a wealth of information about their viewpoints and experiences. Moreover, TikTok has features like “stitches,” “duets,” and “video responses” that let producers reply to other users in videos. These attributes are used by autistic producers to promote discussion and debate both inside and outside the community. TikTok has a younger readership than many other social media sites, with around 80 percent of its estimated 80 million US users aged 16 to 34 (Jabaut, 2019).  They produce videos using user-sourced audio. An example of such sound might be a brief music clip. Phrase from a movie or television program, or a user’s creative material. For instance, with more than 2 million followers, Paige Layle has a series of videos addressing autism in young girls. She looks at how gender-based social roles contribute to the underrepresentation of females in the community or how the autism diagnosis is biased against boys.  Another example is Naia; is a Black queer filmmaker that focuses on neurodivergence and disability in her films. Unlike other social media applications, TikTok’s efficacy as one of the organized methods to assist the delivery of medical education internationally is still in its early phases( Shrivastava, 2022).  The app has demonstrated their promise in medical education by offering a platform for sharing various types of medical knowledge, fostering student involvement, and encouraging active learning. 

The social media app acts as a support system.  Social scientists have connected individual well-being to social assistance. If not directly, then at least digitally, the new social information systems, such as social media, offer new ways of communicating and staying in contact with one another. Social media has evolved into a new means of interaction as new ways to communicate with folks develop. Communities in the Internet Age have created an entirely novel communication form of engagement in social media sites to reach out to its members who live in isolation by offering a sense of belonging and caring.  Autism activists such as Silberman push for more access to resources, particularly information, for families struggling with autism in order to enable them live happier, healthier, more secure, and meaningful lives. Social media has given Internet users a platform for free debates and information exchange on a variety of issues. Families with an autistic person share their experiences on social media, which has become a wealth of information for other members. Autism Speaks and other organizations are striving to raise autism awareness by inviting people to create social media groups where they may share their experiences and get assistance from other users.  There are already over a thousand autism awareness advocates on social media and discussion forums where individuals with autism may benefit from the collective expertise. Autism activists discuss numerous obstacles associated with autism, what needs to be heard in the community, and how to increase awareness about these issues. Such networks give a sense of belonging and general know-how that helps families dealing with autism-related problems better grasp the situation( Saha & Agarwal, 2016). Furthermore, autistic people use fan sites, blogs, and forums to learn more about certain topics and interact with others who share their interests. Some advantages for autistic people include the ability to: interact with those who are similar to us and feel less alienated and alone. share their interests and hobbies with others. People all over the world can now access and get information because of the rapid advancement of communication technologies such as the internet. For instance, an email group support;  individuals can use social media to connect and network with one another and with groups, as well as to keep other members of a group up to date on what is going on and to exchange information or other resources.  It helps parents who have an autistic child to feel much better.  For example, an email group provides an interactive social network for parents to cope with ASD in a variety of ways depending on their cultural, societal, and personal situations, and communicating with others may help parents establish an inner feeling of continuity. Jones and Lewis have also demonstrated the benefits of using social media groups for psychological and social support. Additionally, they discovered that parents utilized discussion forums to share their hope and optimism, and that they created a validating and supportive atmosphere that helped them to perceive their kid as a person rather than focused on the impairment.  There are an increasing number of online support groups. Chuang and Yang (2010) studied social support in online health care social networks, examining the types of information and emotional support provided when offered and requested by alcoholism support groups. We aimed to find examples of social support manifesting in online communication. Online support groups promote emotions of control, well-being, increased independence, self-confidence, and social contacts. The study also discovered that joining an online support group helped enhance personal empowerment, which is critical in dealing with certain distressing disorders. Additional data indicate that online social networking is effective in providing users with emotional support. Individuals with ASD, as well as their parents, siblings, and friends, offer a variety of insights and personal experiences in their stories. These films and their comments sections are extremely valuable for anyone wishing to further their knowledge and awareness of ASD or locate others from all over the world who share similar experiences. Social bolster bunches are imperative to assist guardians adapt with the stressors of caring for their child with ASD (Cole et al., 2017).

The concept of autism has evolved and developed substantially over the last century, as have attempts to treat it (Jabaut, 2019).  By offering a forum for the exchange of medical knowledge in various formats, encouraging student interaction, and fostering active learning, social media apps have demonstrated their promise in the field of medical education. Videos on medicine and other themes relevant to public health have been shared often on TikTok, one of the most well-known video sharing apps. The social media platform has been used in many regions of the world to upload material about autism, community participation, and anxiety. It has arisen as a forum for many stakeholders to engage in research activities, make evidence based choices, or even engage in various public health challenges ( Shrivastava, 2022). Social media can be utilized as an opportunity for people with ASD to make strides in their social interaction. A lot of autistic children and adults find online communication to be less stressful and more pleasurable than traditional methods of establishing friendships. The web may be an imperative apparatus in terms of communicating with extremely introverted individuals and their families and carers. It empowers individuals to figure it out that they are not alone, as well as advertising bolster when no one else is able to. It empowers associations battling with assets to reach more individuals in speedier timescales.  It can be advantageous for guardians and carers in terms of getting data and bolster, and of being able to share their child`s intrigued. The positive thing around computers is that good fortune has implied that they are possibly the most noteworthy ever resource for extremely introverted individuals. They open up a modern world of potential: companions, opportunity and work.