Everyone seems to be missing the point - autism/aspergers is a neurophysical difference from the "typical" brain structure. It means that people with ASD (Autistic Spectrum Disorder) have a different brain structure than "normal" people - meaning they percieve the world differently, and even think diferently. Although brain structure and development are affected by environmental issues, the structure is largely genetically determined, i.e. some people have a predisposition for ASD. Obviously "too much" TV or YouTube or whatever can be an environmental pressure, but if the predisposition isn't there in there in the first place, I can't see how the drastic structural changes can come about without something like disease to cause it.
I'm not a brain doctor, I'm a geek. I also hate TV (we don't even have one at home) and I do firmly believe that it rots your brain, but I love computers. I didn't have access to a TV until I was about 4, despite my dad being a TV engineer, and even when I did, there were only kid's programmes on for 1.5 hours a day, in the afternoon - we're talking early seventies era here. I've just (last week) been "informally" diagnosed with Aspergers, and from the research I've been doing, I'm fairly certain that my father and grand-mother on his side had it too. Two of my nephews were diagnosed with ASD's last year too. One of them is profoundly deaf and wasn't interested in TV until he had cochleal implants fitted 2 or 3 years ago. My 20 month old son is also showing some signs - lining toys up, sorting them, good with puzzles, extremely high IQ... I'm SO glad we don't have a TV, though, as I'm certain it makes things worse. I AM however, considering getting a tablet computer for him once he's physically able to use one without destroying it!
My recent diagnosis has certainly put things in perspective, but in the end, it's shaped who I am. I'm not totally socially unaware or unreachable, but I'm just different (some say odd).
Autism isn't a disability, it's a DIFFability.