PRISM: Evaluating a Rule-Based, Scenario-Driven Social Media Privacy Education Program for Young Autistic Adults

A research team from Brigham Young University and the University of Central Florida has published a study on PRISM (Privacy Rules for Inclusive Social Media), a novel educational program designed to address the unique social media privacy risks faced by young autistic adults. The 14-week classroom intervention was tailored for 29 students with substantial (level 2) support needs, who often employ rigid, rule-based strategies like complete disengagement to manage privacy. The course moved beyond these 'all or nothing' approaches by providing nuanced, contextual guidance through scenario-based learning.

The study, published on arXiv, found that participants' existing mental models for privacy were often simplistic and led to unintentional risky behaviors. The PRISM curriculum focused on six key topics, using realistic scenarios to teach more flexible and safe privacy practices. Pre- and post-knowledge assessments for each topic demonstrated a statistically significant increase in the participants' ability to make safer decisions. The researchers conclude with recommendations for privacy educators and tech designers to adopt similar neuro-affirming interventions, arguing that tailored educational tools are crucial for protecting vulnerable populations who experience disproportionate privacy harms online.