People with autism do not generally have lower social needs than neurotypical people. They just have poorer ability to reason socially.

It's like being deaf in one ear. That doesn't mean you don't like music any less, it's just harder for you to hear it.

I suspect one would need bigger problems than autism to willingly give up, forever, the opportunity to experience life's most basic pleasures: walking, wind, water, grass, trees, flowers, sunlight, food, and other people.

Yet there are a generation of people today that are essentially hermits in their apartments, who do that.

Do you mean during the pandemic? Otherwise, how big is this population?

Its been growing for 30 years. Just google 'social isolation'.

I think GP is referring to a society-wide problem. As a Gen Z-er, I concur - at the risk of sounding dramatic.

> low social needs

People with mental health issues have greater social needs. A desire to be isolated doesn't equate with low social needs. For example, depressed people may want to be alone, but require more effort and energy.