Autistic individuals are reported to struggle with aspects of social interaction. Past research has shown that social media use can help to facilitate social functioning, however, the perceptions of risks and benefits when engaging on social media platforms remains unclear. The current study aimed to explore perceptions of social media participation in terms of online risk and online relationships in both autistic young people and parents. Eight autistic young people and six parents of autistic young people took part in semi-structured interviews, with the resultant data being transcribed and analysed using Braun and Clarke’s (2006) inductive thematic analysis. Two themes were identified in relation to the impact social media has on autistic young people’s relationships (Socialisation; Communication) and two themes were identified in relation to the perceived barriers and risks to engaging online (Abusive interactions; Talking to strangers). These findings show that social interaction is of particular value to young autistic people, in terms of affording them easier social interactions than there would be in ‘real life’. The findings also show that the autistic young people were aware of risks online, and considered ways in which they try to manage this risk. Future research is needed to understand if similar interactions and risk take place across all platforms and whether online communication is successful between matched or mixed autistic and non-autistic groups.

据报道，自闭症患者在社交互动方面有困难。过去的研究表明，社交媒体的使用有助于促进社交功能，但是，在使用社交媒体平台时对风险和收益的看法仍不清楚。目前的研究旨在探讨自闭症年轻人和父母对社交媒体参与的在线风险和在线关系的看法。八名自闭症青年和六名自闭症青年的父母参加了半结构化访谈，使用 Braun 和 Clarke (2006) 的归纳主题分析对所得数据进行转录和分析。关于社交媒体对自闭症年轻人关系的影响，确定了两个主题（社交；沟通）和两个与在线参与的感知障碍和风险相关的主题（滥用互动；与陌生人交谈）。这些发现表明，社交互动对年轻的自闭症患者具有特别的价值，因为它可以为他们提供比“现实生活”更容易的社交互动。调查结果还表明，自闭症年轻人意识到在线风险，并考虑了他们尝试管理这种风险的方法。未来的研究需要了解是否在所有平台上都发生了类似的交互和风险，以及匹配或混合的自闭症和非自闭症群体之间的在线交流是否成功。这些发现表明，社交互动对年轻的自闭症患者具有特别的价值，因为它可以为他们提供比“现实生活”更容易的社交互动。调查结果还表明，自闭症年轻人意识到在线风险，并考虑了他们尝试管理这种风险的方法。未来的研究需要了解是否在所有平台上都发生了类似的交互和风险，以及匹配或混合的自闭症和非自闭症群体之间的在线交流是否成功。这些发现表明，社交互动对年轻的自闭症患者具有特别的价值，因为它可以为他们提供比“现实生活”更容易的社交互动。调查结果还表明，自闭症年轻人意识到在线风险，并考虑了他们尝试管理这种风险的方法。未来的研究需要了解是否在所有平台上都发生了类似的交互和风险，以及匹配或混合的自闭症和非自闭症群体之间的在线交流是否成功。