When ADHD and Autism Suddenly Become “Trendy”

Identifying with a psychiatric disorder—or believing one has such a disorder without a formal professional evaluation (self-diagnosis)—seems to be becoming increasingly “trendy” among young people. Among other things, this is due to online content about mental health circulating on social media. Digital platforms can expose users to psychological concepts through personal narratives and diagnostic language, encouraging them to compare these descriptions with their own experiences—and, in some cases, to subsequently seek professional confirmation.