I recently took an autism quiz. Not because I thought I was autistic—just curiosity and maybe a little procrastination. The result? Apparently, I have some “traits,” but nope, not autistic. Still, it made me wonder: how many other teens are out here doing the same thing—Googling symptoms, watching TikToks, and playing amateur neurologist?
Right now, more people than ever are discovering—or deciding—they’re neurodivergent. Sometimes it’s through a professional diagnosis. Sometimes it’s a TikTok that hits way too close to home. On the surface, that sounds great. But is it? Or could it also lead to misdiagnosis, overmedication, and teens being boxed in by labels?
The Numbers are Wild
Nearly 1 in 9 U.S. kids have been diagnosed with ADHD. Autism diagnoses? They’ve gone from 1 in 150 children in 2000 to 1 in 36 in children 4 to 8, according to the CDC. That’s not because everyone’s suddenly changing overnight—it’s because we’re catching more cases. Pediatricians are more aware, schools are quicker to flag behaviors, and social media has made self-diagnosis basically a sport.
The Debate
The Celebration Side: “We’re Finally Seen”
For generations, people—especially girls and kids of color—slipped through the cracks. They were mislabeled as lazy, “too sensitive,” or troublemakers. Rising diagnoses mean more people getting therapy, medication, accommodations, and self-understanding. To many, this isn’t a crisis. It’s overdue justice.
The Skeptical Side: “We’re Pathologizing Childhood”
Others say we’re slapping medical labels on normal human behavior. Restlessness, zoning out, being shy—these aren’t symptoms of neurodivergency. They’re just… being a kid. Critics also point to Big Pharma’s profit motive, overwhelmed schools wanting “solutions,” and parents panicking over anything less than perfection.
Where It Gets Messy
Labels Liberate… and Limit
A diagnosis can be a flashlight in a dark room. Suddenly, your quirks make sense. But it can also be a cage. Some teens might start to think: Am I acting this way because of me… or because the diagnosis says I should? When a label starts deciding who you can be instead of just explaining who you are—that’s a problem.
The Gender and Race Gap
ADHD and autism can look different in girls and BIPOC youth, but most diagnostic checklists are still built on studies of white boys. So are these rising numbers us finally correcting decades of bias… or are we still getting it wrong, just in a new way?
The TikTok Effect
TikTok is flooded with “POV: you’re autistic” skits and “ADHD life hack” videos. Some are legit game-changers—people finally see themselves and feel less alone. Others? Let’s just say not every creator is a licensed anything. One scroll can spark a lightbulb moment. The next can have you convinced your messy room is a clinical symptom. So, are we becoming more self-aware—or just cosplaying whatever’s trending?
Who Benefits?
Pharma companies profit. Parents get answers (and maybe peace of mind). Schools get plans to manage students. But teens? We’re the ones living inside the labels—sometimes they help, sometimes they stick like a sticker you can’t peel off.
Final Thoughts
I’m not autistic, so I can’t speak for anyone who is. But from where I’m standing, the sudden uptick in diagnoses is a tough one to unpack. If everyone’s getting diagnosed, is that progress… or just a sign that we’ve changed the definition of “normal”? And if the latter is true, is that okay?
