Autistic adults’ priorities for social media and mental health research: A co-produced Delphi consensus study

Background: Social media has been linked to a range of harms and benefits to the mental health and well-being of users, including Autistic social media users, who – some have argued – may be particularly sensitive to both positive and negative effects of the technology. Despite this, there has been relatively little research into the links between social media and mental health in Autistic people, and even less is known about the research priorities of Autistic people themselves. Methods: We conducted a three-wave Delphi study to identify Autistic adults’ priorities for research into social media and mental health. We also sought to explore community perspectives on ways to undertake research that maximises impact, relevance and reach, using thematic analysis of free-text survey responses. Results: Twenty-one participants completed all three stages and identified 29 research priorities (out of 131 initially generated) that reached high levels of endorsement and consensus. While there was some interest in the potential harms of social media, overall, participants prioritised strengths/benefits-focused research. Specifically, there was interest in understanding how social media might be used to connect people – to reliable information, interests, hobbies, peers and communities; its potential to facilitate self-soothing and emotional regulation; as well as if/how social media might be used to reflect and cultivate a positive sense of self and identity in Autistic people. Finally, there was a strong emphasis on undertaking research that can be translated into concrete, practical benefits, including for under-represented, minoritised Autistic populations, and those with intersectional identities.Conclusions: The findings highlight the importance of prioritising strengths-based research that reflects Autistic adults’ perspectives and investigates social media’s potential to support connection, emotional well-being, and positive identity. Ultimately, it is hoped that a focus on these priorities will translate into practical benefits, particularly for under-represented and intersectional Autistic communities.[VERSION ACCEPTED FOR PUBLICATION IN AUTISM IN ADULTHOOD]