How does autism influence the use of online platforms to make friends?

PostedDecember 22, 2025

UpdatedDecember 22, 2025

ByMy Patient Advice

Author: Beatrice Holloway, MSc | Reviewed by: Dr. Rebecca Fernandez, MBBS

For autistic individuals, online platforms can provide a valuable opportunity to build friendships in environments that cater to their unique social communication styles, sensory sensitivities, and emotional needs. Online platforms remove many of the barriers associated with in-person interactions, such as sensory overload and the need to interpret non-verbal cues, making it easier for autistic people to engage and connect with others.

Social-communication differences and online friendship

Autistic individuals often find group-based activities challenging due to difficulties interpreting social cues, body language, and conversational rules. As noted by NAS, online platforms can provide a more structured, text-based environment where autistic people can communicate more comfortably, without the pressure to interpret non-verbal social cues. NHS guidance supports this by highlighting how online interactions remove many of the demands associated with face-to-face communication.

Sensory sensitivities and preference for online socializing

Many autistic individuals experience sensory sensitivities, such as aversions to noise, bright lights, or physical touch. NHS and NAS report that online communication offers a respite from overwhelming sensory stimuli commonly found in in-person interactions. Asynchronous communication, for example, allows autistic people to engage in socializing at their own pace, reducing stress and sensory overload.

Masking and authenticity in online spaces

Masking, the act of suppressing autistic traits to fit in, is a common experience for many autistic individuals, especially in social settings. Research from SAGE Publications indicates that online platforms provide a space where masking is less necessary, allowing for more authentic self-expression. PubMed reviews further support this, showing that online environments offer a chance for autistic individuals to connect more genuinely without the emotional exhaustion associated with masking.

Social anxiety, self-esteem, and comfort online

Autistic individuals with social anxiety or low self-esteem may find online platforms easier for making friends. According to PubMed reviews, online communication reduces the fear of real-time rejection, providing a more controlled environment where individuals can take their time to engage. The ability to communicate at their own pace can help improve social comfort and friendship quality, particularly for those with anxiety.

Lived-experience insights: safer, structured spaces

Lived-experience accounts from NAS and Ambitious About Autism emphasize that many autistic people prefer online platforms and interest-based communities that provide structure, predictability, and clear communication. These environments foster safe and supportive connections, where individuals can form friendships without the stress of navigating unstructured or unfamiliar social situations.

Benefits and risks of online platforms

Online platforms offer many benefits, including the ability to connect based on shared interests, reduce sensory overload, and engage without the immediate social pressures of face-to-face interactions. However, PubMed and NHS highlight that potential risks include misunderstandings, exposure to inappropriate content, or sensory overload on certain platforms. It’s essential that autistic individuals have access to supportive, safe online spaces tailored to their needs.

Takeaway

Online platforms offer a valuable alternative for autistic individuals to connect with others and form friendships. By reducing the social and sensory barriers associated with in-person interactions, online spaces provide an opportunity for more authentic engagement. However, it’s important to create supportive and structured environments to ensure these platforms are beneficial for social connection.

Beatrice Holloway, MSc

Author

Beatrice Holloway is a clinical psychologist with a Master’s in Clinical Psychology and a BS in Applied Psychology. She specialises in CBT, psychological testing, and applied behaviour therapy, working with children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), developmental delays, and learning disabilities, as well as adults with bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, anxiety, OCD, and substance use disorders. Holloway creates personalised treatment plans to support emotional regulation, social skills, and academic progress in children, and delivers evidence-based therapy to improve mental health and well-being across all ages.

All qualifications and professional experience stated above are authentic and verified by our editorial team. However, pseudonym and image likeness are used to protect the author's privacy.

Dr. Rebecca Fernandez, MBBS

Reviewer

Dr. Rebecca Fernandez is a UK-trained physician with an MBBS and experience in general surgery, cardiology, internal medicine, gynecology, intensive care, and emergency medicine. She has managed critically ill patients, stabilised acute trauma cases, and provided comprehensive inpatient and outpatient care. In psychiatry, Dr. Fernandez has worked with psychotic, mood, anxiety, and substance use disorders, applying evidence-based approaches such as CBT, ACT, and mindfulness-based therapies. Her skills span patient assessment, treatment planning, and the integration of digital health solutions to support mental well-being.

All qualifications and professional experience stated above are authentic and verified by our editorial team. However, pseudonym and image likeness are used to protect the reviewer's privacy.