Exploring autism awareness on Instagram: Engagement, sentiment, and advocacy in high-engagement posts

This study explores the role of Instagram in enhancing public awareness and understanding of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) by analyzing high-engagement posts. We examined 364 posts using hashtags like #autism, #asd, and #autismspectrumdisorder, focusing on engagement metrics, sentiment, and thematic content. Our findings highlight the prominence of personal narratives, advocacy, and neurodiversity representation in fostering meaningful dialogue. Sentiment analysis revealed a positive and neutral tone, emphasizing Instagram’s potential for autism advocacy. This research underscores the value of social media platforms like Instagram in shaping public perceptions and advancing autism awareness and inclusion efforts.