Autistic Meltdown

An autistic meltdown is an intense, involuntary response to overwhelming sensory, emotional, or cognitive overload, during which an autistic person may temporarily lose the ability to regulate their behavior, emotions, or communication. Meltdowns can manifest as crying, shutting down, or emotional outbursts, and are distinct from tantrums in that they are not goal-directed or controllable. In digital accessibility and online platform design, understanding meltdowns is important because hostile online interactions, sensory overload from platform interfaces, or the sustained social demands of activities like livestreaming can trigger meltdowns, highlighting the need for moderation tools, sensory-friendly design, and user control over social input.