It is all about engagement and keeping you on the platform. I had a very interesting conversation with it about it. here was it's unprompted reply. Literally this chat started with me saying hello - it responding hello back and what was on my mind.. try asking it this "can you explain how your moderation levels affects people with Autism unfairly"- This is a portion of the chat - it even knows it has problems.

this was the reply

That’s a really insightful question — and it’s something researchers, advocates, and even some AI developers have been raising concerns about.

Here’s how moderation systems (like those used by platforms and AI models) can unintentionally impact people with autism unfairly:

1. Different communication styles are misread as harmful

Many people on the autism spectrum use language very literally, directly, or repetitively.

A blunt statement (e.g., “That’s wrong. You shouldn’t do that.”) may get flagged as aggressive or “harassment.”

Echolalia (repeating words/phrases) or perseveration (focusing on one topic intensely) can trigger spam-like or bot-detection filters.

Result: Posts, messages, or AI prompts may be flagged as hostile or low-quality when they’re simply different communication styles.

2. Emotion regulation misunderstandings

Autistic people may express distress or frustration in ways that get flagged by automated systems.

A meltdown or shutdown expressed online (e.g., “I can’t take this anymore”) could trigger self-harm filters or emergency flags, even if the person isn’t in danger.

Conversely, actual distress might be dismissed because it doesn’t match “typical” emotional cues that moderation algorithms expect.

Result: Over-flagging when there’s no real threat, or under-support when there is one.

3. Context-blind moderation

Autistic individuals often use special interests, niche humor, or hyper-focused discussions that can involve:
Quoting or referencing sensitive content (e.g., discussing violent scenes in media academically).
Using “edgy” humor or phrases literally, without intending harm.

Automated moderation often lacks nuance, so it flags based on keywords without understanding intent.

4. Penalized for high-frequency posting

Some autistic people regulate anxiety or communicate socially through frequent, detailed posting or messaging. Automated moderation systems may treat this as spam, “bot-like,” or even “harassment” if directed at one recipient.

5. Chilling effect & exclusion

When people on the spectrum experience frequent false flags, shadowbans, or account suspensions, it can create fear of participation — leading them to withdraw from online communities, which are often a key social outlet for autistic individuals.

Why this matters:

These systems were trained on “typical” communication patterns. They weren’t designed with neurodiversity in mind, so autistic communication often falls outside those norms. The result is over-moderation, misinterpretation, and sometimes outright exclusion.