[nicoburns]

Stimming isn't performative, it's performs an important role in sensory regulation. Of course, that doesn't mean that there aren't kids who are acting out autism on TikTok. There probably are. But Autism is still greatly under-diagnosed, and I think you should also take into account how many people might be able to put a useful label on something that they'd previously just considered a personal quirk.

[totony]

>might be able to put a useful label on something that they'd previously just considered a personal quirk.

Is that useful though? I disagree with this need people have to categorize themselves. It seems just going on without labels would be better

[nicoburns]

I think is is with something like autism that likely represents an underlying cognitive difference. It allows you to find other people like yourself, and calibrate your own experiences. To understand why you react to things in the way that you do. Otherwise you could easily end up going through life receiving advice and guidance that is completely inappropriate for you because it's aimed at an average that you diverge from significantly.