User:Di (they-them)/Autism Creature

The Autism Creature, also known as the TBH Creature or Yippee, is a fictional creature from Internet memes originating in 2021. The character became popular with people on the autism spectrum online, becoming a symbol of the online autistic community.

History
In January 2021, the original drawing of the creature was shared on Twitter. By 2022, it had gained substantial popularity on Tumblr, and it had been nicknamed "Yippee" due to a meme video featuring the creature being blasted with confetti with a "yippee" soundbite playing.

Association with autism
As the character grew in popularity, it gained traction among the autistic community. This association has been attributed to the fact that the creature has a neutral expression despite its whimsical nature, which may be relatable to some people who struggle to express emotions through facial expressions. In addition, the Autism Creature has been used as a digital paper doll, with online users editing the original image to represent themselves. In representing autism in a positive manner, some users consider the Autism Creature as a tool for promoting acceptance.

In some memes, the Autism Creature has been depicted interacting with Ashbie Moon, another meme character with autism.

Controversy
Some members of the autistic community have criticized the meme for a variety of reasons. The creature's neutral and emotionless face has been considered a negative stereotype, and it has been criticized as not being an accurate representation of the autistic community's diversity. The use of the term "Creature" has also been described as dehumanizing.

In addition, the character's popularity has led to images of it being used in merchandise, sometimes by non-autistic people. This has been criticized as commercial exploitation.