For some yes. However, for many others, a preference for being by themselves is due to repeated rejections, isolation and trauma experienced when friendships and relationships break down. 

Many autistic people enjoy social interactions and having relationships. It is important to them as it is to so many people. Autistic people deserve and have the right to friendships. Far too often, autistic people are made to feel that they are to blame for friendship differences, that they need to change to be more 'neurotypical' so friendships go according to plan. However, the double empathy problem asserts that there is no one person to 'blame' but the difficulties in communication between an autistic and non-autistic person is a difference in understanding each others point of view. The neurotypical person does not hold the 'right' social skills that the autistic person must possess. Rather, just a difference.