Designing Autistic Social Media for Thriving Neurodiverse Communities

Why It Matters

Traditional social media design often overlooks the unique needs and communication styles of neurodivergent users, leading to exclusionary experiences. By adopting a 'Banal Autistic Design' approach, practitioners can move beyond deficit-based models to create platforms that genuinely support well-being and community building.

Key Finding

The study found that current social media designs often fail neurodivergent users, and proposes a new design philosophy focused on flexibility, individual preferences, and community building around shared interests to create more supportive online spaces.

Key Findings

• Existing social media design often imposes normative expectations that can be alienating for autistic users.
• A design approach prioritizing customization, anti-normativity, non-prescriptiveness, granular publics, and interest-centricity is crucial for fostering inclusive online spaces.
• Embodied ways of knowing, as experienced by autistic individuals, offer valuable perspectives for designing more effective and supportive digital environments.

Research Evidence

Aim: How can social media platforms be designed to better support the thriving of neurodiverse online communities?

Method: Found Footage Autoethnography

Procedure: The researchers conducted an autoethnography using 'found footage' from their own online social media interactions, analyzing these experiences through the lens of autistic embodied ways of knowing to derive design insights.

Context: Online social media platforms, neurodiversity, autism

Design Principle

Design for neurodiversity by embracing customization, anti-normativity, and interest-centricity.

How to Apply

When designing any digital platform intended for social interaction, actively seek input from and consider the needs of neurodivergent users. Implement flexible design options that allow users to tailor their experience.

Limitations

The autoethnographic method is subjective and may not be generalizable to all autistic individuals. The 'found footage' approach relies on existing online interactions, which may not fully capture all aspects of social media use.

Student Guide (IB Design Technology)

Simple Explanation: This research suggests that social media should be designed to be more flexible and personal, allowing people, especially those who are autistic, to connect in ways that feel right for them, rather than forcing everyone to use it the same way.

Why This Matters: Understanding how to design for diverse user groups, including neurodivergent individuals, is crucial for creating inclusive and effective digital products. This research provides a framework for moving beyond generic design solutions.

Critical Thinking: To what extent can design principles derived from a specific neurodivergent experience be generalized to create universally inclusive digital platforms?

IA-Ready Paragraph: This design project draws inspiration from research advocating for 'Banal Autistic Design,' which emphasizes creating digital environments that are customizable, anti-normative, non-prescriptive, and interest-centric to better support neurodiverse users. By prioritizing these principles, the aim is to move beyond deficit-focused design paradigms and foster more inclusive and thriving online communities, as explored through autoethnographic methods.

Project Tips

• Consider the diverse needs of your target audience from the outset.
• Explore autoethnography as a method for gaining deep personal insights into user experiences.
• Focus on creating adaptable and customizable design solutions.

How to Use in IA

• Use the principles of customization, anti-normativity, and interest-centricity to inform your design choices.
• Reference the 'Banal Autistic Design' approach as a theoretical framework for user-centered design.
• Discuss how your design addresses the limitations of current social media for neurodivergent users.

Examiner Tips

• Demonstrate an understanding of inclusive design principles.
• Show how user research has directly informed design decisions.
• Critically evaluate the limitations of your chosen research methods.

Independent Variable: ["Design features (customization, anti-normativity, granular publics, interest-centricity)"]

Dependent Variable: ["User experience and community thriving (as perceived by neurodivergent users)"]

Controlled Variables: ["Platform type (social media)","General user interface conventions"]

Strengths

• Introduces a novel research method (Found Footage Autoethnography) suited for embodied ways of knowing.
• Offers a concrete set of design principles for a specific, underserved user group.

Critical Questions

• How can the 'Banal Autistic Design' approach be adapted for other forms of digital or physical product design?
• What are the ethical considerations when designing for specific neurotypes, and how can potential biases be mitigated?

Extended Essay Application

• Investigate the design of online learning platforms for neurodivergent students, applying principles of customization and interest-centricity.
• Conduct an autoethnographic study of personal experiences with assistive technologies, analyzing them through the lens of embodied cognition.

Source

Banal Autistic Social Media: A Found Footage Autoethnography · 2023 · 10.1145/3597638.3614552