TikTok Fuels ADHD, Autism Self-Diagnosis as Adults in Their 40s Seek Labels

1 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Aug 5

Social media influencers are pushing videos that encourage users to self-diagnose conditions including A.D.H.D. and autism, a trend examined in a New York Times Opinions discussion.
Nadja Spiegelman, Tressie McMillan Cottom and author Mary H.K. Choi focus on why people seek diagnostic labels and what happens when self-perception outpaces medical evidence.
Choi says she received both A.D.H.D. and autism diagnoses as an adult in her early 40s, illustrating how online conversations can intersect with long-unresolved personal questions.
The discussion frames self-diagnosis as both a source of recognition and a potential constraint, raising broader questions about how digital platforms shape ideas of neurodivergence.