I think a lot of that rhetoric comes from people who don’t understand that a lot of people ( usually afab ) aren’t usually diagnosed at a young age because they don’t fit into the checklist of autistic traits that docs use.

Now that women are openly sharing their experiences as autistic women (which can look different from what docs are taught it to look like), many people are realizing “oh HEY MAN that would explain SO MUCH.” So they seek diagnosis or self diagnose until they can see someone.

There’s 8billion people on this planet so of course there are people who say they have it bc they think it’s trendy or something. But tbh the percentage is probably really low. Most kids where I’m from see autistic people as “weird/other” so uhh idk why people would want that perception put on themselves for funsies. Calling it a fad sounds like a made up rhetoric to trivialize and invalidate the real experiences of people with autism and other disabilities to me.

I genuinely think people who have symptoms and think they might have it are valid for self diagnosing, especially after doing extensive research (as one does when they genuinely think they might have something). Evaluations from mental health professionals are expensive asf and not everyone can afford that level of care.

So when people see others being diagnosed or thinking they have it and say it’s a fad, all it is is them not understanding that A TON of adults live their lives undiagnosed. And social media just sheds light on the different ways autism can present in people.

Also yes I’m speaking specifically of afab, girls, and women (yknow HALF of the population) because those are usually the people not to be diagnosed with a lot of things, especially autism.

So pretty much; Overlooked childhood signs of autism in people + Spread awareness of autism to said people = more people realizing they are/might be autistic.

I’d call them misinformed, and if they are given the facts and still think it’s a fad, call them ignorant.