The Autism Society Event and Education Recordings Archive

People with ASD can network online successfully if they are taught the relevant, often unstated social rules and about Internet safety. This session examines the potential benefits and pitfalls of interacting online, and introduces the essential elements of a training program for online social networking success. Adolescents and adults with ASD are more likely to use computers and digital devices for solitary pursuits like gaming than for connecting socially, like their neurotypical peers do.  Yet there are several important reasons why social networking online can be beneficial for people with ASD. This session will begin by introducing data on the limited use of social media by people with autism.  It will then introduce some of the reasons why social networking online can be a good way for people with ASD to practice social skills and expand their social networks.

After discussing potential benefits, the presenter will introduce some difficulties neurotypicals encounter when networking socially online, followed by a discussion of the ways in which social skills deficits can exacerbate these difficulties and create additional problems for people with ASD.

Once these problems have been introduced and explored, the session will examine what type of training is needed in order for a person with ASD to successfully network socially online. Such training should cover four basic content areas:

1. Understanding relationships, in person and online
2. Going online and making connections
3. Online Etiquette
4. Internet Safety

Students with ASD will best master the material if training incorporates the following elements:

• Working with a teacher, parent or coach
• Starting in the in-person world then carrying the lessons learned into an online environment
• Breaking learning into chunks or concrete lessons
• Scaffolding on existing knowledge
• Using graphic organizers and other teaching tools
• Monitoring the application of lessons learned
• Evaluating and modifying as needed

Although training should be tailored to individuals as much as possible, a typical training program would cover some of these topics:

• Identification of the individual’s social networking goals
• An introduction to relationships in general, using a model like the Circles curriculum from James Stanfield or a pyramid schema developed by the presenter
• Adding personal data to the model
• Exploring and selecting appropriate social media sites 
• Creating a profile using a graphic organizer to identify relevant information
• Identifying potential connections (based on the relationship model) and sending connection requests
• Learning about appropriate topics for posts, photos and uploaded media, using graphic organizers and/or social stories
• Practice adding content
• Lessons on Internet safety issues, such as avoiding scams and cyber bullying

The presenter’s book, The Secret Rules of Social Networking, will be introduced as a resource.  An individual with ASD can benefit from this book alone, however its efficacy will be increased when used in conjunction with social skills coaching or a training program like the one outlined in this presentation.

This session will introduce a problem -- the fact that there are dangers inherent in online social networking for those who lack foundational social knowledge.  It will then propose a solution – information about the essential components of a training program that can prepare people with ASD to succeed at online social networking and to reap the many potential benefits.

Learning Objectives: