Study reveals how tabloid news today fuels unconscious autism biases
A new study from City, St George’s, University of London has uncovered a link between newspaper reading habits and unconscious biases towards autism. The research suggests that frequent readers of right-leaning tabloids, such as the Daily Mail and The Sun, are more likely to hold negative automatic prejudices. Published in the journal Autism, the findings also informed evidence submitted to the House of Lords Committee on the Autism Act 2009.
The study examined how trust in newspapers and reading habits shape attitudes toward autism. Researchers found that people who rely heavily on newspapers for news today tend to have less accurate knowledge about the condition. This lack of understanding was particularly noticeable among those who expressed high trust in news outlets.
The research provides clear evidence that newspaper reading habits influence both conscious and unconscious attitudes toward autism. With newspaper trust and tabloid readership linked to stronger negative biases, the study underscores the role of media in shaping public perceptions. These insights were shared with the House of Lords Committee as part of ongoing discussions about the Autism Act 2009.
