Social media is booming. When Facebook launched all the way back in 2004, no one could have predicted in just a decade and a half it would be the global force it is today. 5-6 years ago, there were plenty of folks without social media accounts, but now?

Good luck finding someone that doesn’t have an account on Twitter, Instagram, Tik Tok, Facebook, or Snapchat.

The explosion of social media has also lead to a rise in “influencers”. While there are no set-in-stone criteria to be an influencer, the general sense is that one needs to have at least 1,000 followers and be posting on a regular basis.

Influencers cover a wide range of topics, from fashion to fitness and even autism. If you or your teen are looking for some positive influence on social media, you should check out these social media stars. We’ve put together a few of the top Instagram influencers to follow for daily inspiration as well as a glimpse into the lives of these more than capable people with autism who do not let autism define them.

Leanne Libas @callmemisslibas

Leanne leads a busy life, doubling as a college student and a steady blogger for the Art of Autism.

One look at her page and you can see she’s a very big advocate for autism acceptance. She regularly posts stories and messages for children encouraging them throughout the day.

Also, she’s big into makeup so if your adolescent keeps stealing your eye-liner, she’s the perfect one to follow!

Amythest Schaber @neurowonderful

Amythest Schaber is all over the social media world from running an Instagram page that focuses on her daily life and cat Jiji to her YouTube channel.

Although she hasn’t updated her YouTube channel in a while, she still has plenty of videos with candid Q&A sessions and vlogs recapping her daily life.

Daniel Jones @theaspieworld

Perhaps the most well-known social media influencer with autism, Daniel Jones is a positive and fun person from Great Britain. He’s a YouTuber and author who is known for his fun and uplifting videos.

On his Instagram, you can see bits of his daily life mixed in with plenty of positive quotes and life tips. These range from simple uplifting messages like “you can always do something amazing” to reminders about the importance of a healthy breakfast.

Sara Jane Harvey @agonyauntie

Another British Influencer, Harvey has plenty of followers through her Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook page. She prides herself on being an autism advocate and is posting a mix of photos covering her life as well as autism awareness messages.

She does cover some mature topics from time to time, so it’s best to only let your adolescents follow her.

Jeremiah Josey @jercookingadventure

Hungry? We hope so because it’s time to go cooking with Jeremiah.

Jeremiah is a speaker, author, autism advocate, and pastry chef. He’s been on a number of TV shows around the globe, such as This is Food and The Steve TV Show. He regularly posts pictures from his daily life and travels.

Plus, it’s impossible to leave his page and not feel hungry! If your teen loves baking or cooking, this account is great to follow for inspiration.

James Sinclair @autisicandunapologetic

For students in our writing club, following James Sinclair is a must. He’s an active writer on his website, offering tips to aspiring writers around the planet.

Besides writing tips, James is uploading photos of his daily life and happenings around his native country, England. Make sure you check out his blog and social media pages.

Be sure to check out these influencers and give them a follow on social media. Not only do they provide messages of inspiration and hope, but they also show students how they can be creative in the online world.

It’s a great way to express their passions whether it be writing, art, cooking, fitness, or something completely different. These influencers are showing they live extraordinary lives and inspire those around them!