Autism is being over diagnosed in the US for sure. It might be different in Germany but I know plenty of folks who have been diagnosed autistic after just a conversation or two with their therapist.

I know multiple therapists who have had parents try to get their kids an autism diagnosis because they think it'll help on admissions to colleges.

So be aware that what YOU experience is not what is happening elsewhere.

Autism is super cool on social media right now. So while the people who likely should be getting diagnosed likely aren't, many people who don't have autism are happily getting the diagnosis so they can fit in a group or have that label. Be aware that in the US, many people shop around to get the diagnosis they want and many doctors have happy to appease them. That's why antibiotics are massively over rxed in the US. Mental health is no different.

That sounds like the same moral panic trans people face. Oh, the children are turned trans by social media and all that shite.

No mentally healthy person is going to pretend to be autistic. There is still a huge stigma against it despite some parts of social media being progressive. I don't think a neurotypical person could even easily "fake" it. If you fit in with neurodivergent people, you probably are yourself.

People have always been gay, trans, neurodivergent, whatever. They just had to hide. Once they are tolerated by society, reactionaries will spread moral panic saying "Everyone is X these days". There were always who they were.