However, short-form videos have been around longer than the infamous clock app has, and if you are like me, you can be exposed to TikTok or TikTok-like content without downloading the app itself. It has been cited as a source of education and relatability, but also blamed for the rise in faking autism and making it a trend. In my time exploring the online autism community, there has been no platform more contested than TikTok.

CW: This post contains recurring references to meltdowns, self-injurious stims, and fakeclaiming.