News and Knowledge

In 2018, the Pew Research Center reported that social media has surpassed print newspapers as a source of news information in the United States, and more than two thirds of adults use Facebook. Social media platforms, such as Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest, use algorithms to determine the content that is most likely to be of interest to users. This means that if you have clicked on links or “liked” posts within social media, content related to those links will appear more often on your main page or newsfeed.

That is, social media sites attempt to predict what you want to see in the future based on your past interactions with friends or brands. Unfortunately, this can put you in a vulnerable position because, for example, “liking” a post about a child with autism sleeping through the night can lead to a deluge of advertisements and articles on your newsfeed about sleep and autism—whether you want them or not.

The news disseminated via social media usually has short headlines that are overly dramatic, emotion-provoking, or sensationalized to entice consumers scrolling through their newsfeed to click and read more. They may promote fixes or cures for autism or autism symptoms. Some of them will even intentionally try to make you feel sad or angry to provoke you to read the information. Finally, news sources, websites, and blogs receive money from advertisers based on the number of clicks or reads their pages receive. Keep these points in mind when reading headlines on social media to stop yourself from wasting time and energy on non-trustworthy news sources.

To filter through this information, use the following general guidelines for reading social media posts:

• Look at who posted the article. Is it someone that you know and trust? Is it from a group, organization, or news source that is credible, like a university-based autism program or federal department?
• Avoid clicking posts that say “sponsored,” “promoted,” or “advertisement.” These words may appear in small print at the top or bottom of the post, so look carefully.
• Think carefully before reacting to or sharing sensationalized posts. Similar articles are more likely to show up in your newsfeed if you respond to that content.
• Make sure that the article cites research studies or major autism organizations when stating facts about autism. For example, if an article says, “studies show that children with autism have gastrointestinal disorders,” does it tell you which studies so that you can check the facts?
• Read with a critical eye. If it sounds too good to be true or is overly emotion-provoking, the information is probably exaggerated.
• Always ask a trusted researcher or medical provider before paying for or trying a new treatment for your child.

Examples of sensationalized headlines:

• The Essential Oil Blend That Cured My Child With Autism’s Sleep Problems
• 5 Easy Ways to Prevent Wandering in Autism
• The Research-Based Approach to Reversing Autism
• Doctors Don’t Like This Diet Because It Cures Autism
• 7 Secrets About Autism Your Doctors and Therapists Won’t Tell You
• What is an Ion Cleanse and How Can It Help My Child with Autism?

This post was adapted from Life Journey Through Autism: A Parent’s Guide to Research. Click here to order or download the guide.