City Research Online

Abstract

Autistic adults find themselves embedded within digital environments that are largely designed by and for neurotypical people. These environments are often unsuitable and challenging for the neurodivergent. As a result, autistic people are exposed to high levels of stress when using digital technologies, and must invest extraordinary effort in coping with it. In this participatory design study, we partnered with 20 autistic adults to investigate how they handle the stress caused by social media use. Their ways of coping and their design work point at the most problematic aspects of the design of social media, and suggest alternative directions for these digital platforms. We conclude that participatory design grounded on autistic coping provides an opportunity for the neuro-diversification of technology design.

Publication Type:	Article
Additional Information:	© 2025. This is the author's version of the work. It is posted here for your personal use. Not for redistribution. The definitive Version of Record was published in Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction (PACMHCI), https://doi.org/10.1145/3757593
Publisher Keywords:	coping strategies, ways of coping, autistic adults, social media, participatory design
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General) R Medicine > RC Internal medicine > RC0321 Neuroscience. Biological psychiatry. Neuropsychiatry
Departments:	School of Science & Technology School of Science & Technology > Department of Computer Science
SWORD Depositor:	Symplectic Administrator

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