‘Tell Me More’ Explores How Autism Awareness Is Up, But Self-Diagnosis Isn’t a Plan

Autism content is everywhere—sometimes helpful, sometimes confusing, and often loud. On Tell Me More with Nicole Walters, the host sits down with educational therapist and school psychologist Alicia Trice to help dial down the noise and navigate this exact moment for families.

Walters speaks for many parents scrolling through various social media platforms late at night: the interest is genuine, the urgency is real, and the algorithm isn’t a clinician. However, visibility can be valuable, as long as families focus on plans rather than relying solely on what they see online.

Social media can raise awareness about autism, not diagnosis

Walters names the dynamic many notice but don’t say out loud: “TikTok has all sorts of ‘keyboard psychologists,’” and that influencer anecdotes can make early signs feel definitive when they aren’t. Rather than dunking on creators, whom she concedes have the best of intentions, Walters redirects attention to qualified support.

She also brings a simple principle to the table—“Correlation doesn’t mean causation”—because patterns on a screen can appear to be proof when stress levels are high. Trice extends that point with a grounded image. “Every time I go to the beach, I eat ice cream and I come home with a sunburn,” she notes. “Does that mean ice cream causes my sunburn? No, it’s because it’s sunny at the beach.”

Social media can highlight old questions and raise new ones—both of which are crucial to our understanding of autism. But your social feed should not replace a qualified clinical diagnosis.

If you have concerns, start with a clinical pathway

When worry turns into “what now,” Trice keeps the first step doable and straightforward. Families, she says, can “do both” a doctor visit and specialty care, but “the first step is typically talking to your primary care physician,” who can then provide “a referral to a clinical psychologist.” That route leads to standardized tools, trained interpretation, and next steps that don’t depend on a trending checklist.

The “why” questions inevitably follow: What causes autism, and did something in the past trigger it? Trice answers with clarity and without blame. “It is confirmed that there is a genetic component,” she says, while adding that researchers continue to sort out the specifics. This framing shifts the focus from self-recrimination to practical support—evaluations, services, and strategies tailored to each child.

Behavior is communication, not a character flaw

In homes, classrooms, and grocery aisles, behavior is the loudest language. Trice invites parents to translate before they try to fix, reminding them that “any behavior from anyone, diagnosis or not, is a form of communication.” Instead of spiraling about what a moment “means,” she encourages families to ask what need is being expressed—and how to meet that need differently.

The episode also acknowledges how sensory environments can pile on, especially for autistic kids. “It is very typical for those with autism to have more sensitivity to sounds, textures, [and] different environmental things,” Trice explains. Those spaces “can be difficult to be in without some accommodation.” Seen through that lens, the goal isn’t perfection—it’s predictability, support, and tools that lower the volume on overwhelm.

A steadier way through the noise

Autism isn’t a trend, and it isn’t a personality test. Walters and Trice treat it as what it is: a neurological reality that deserves compassion, evidence-based evaluation, and a plan. Be curious, be kind, and choose clinicians over comment sections.

If your feed has you wondering about autism in your family, treat those concerns as a nudge, not a verdict or diagnosis itself. Book the appointment. Follow the referral. Ask the questions you’re afraid to voice. The actual path forward starts with honest evaluation, not an algorithm—and your child’s behavior is telling you something you can learn to hear.

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