Exploring social networking technologies as tools for HIV prevention for men who have sex with men

Authors

• Jorge Ramallo, The University of Illinois at Chicago
• Thomas Kidder, World Health Clinicians
• Tashuna Albritton, CUNY School of MedicineFollow
• Gary Blick, World Health Clinicians
• John Pachankis, Yale University
• Valen Grandeleski, Yale University
• Trace Kershaw, Yale University

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2015

Abstract

Social networking technologies are influential among men who have sex with men (MSM) and may be an important strategy for HIV prevention. We conducted focus groups with HIV positive and negative participants. Almost all participants used social networking sites to meet new friends and sexual partners. The main obstacle to effective HIV prevention campaigns in social networking platforms was stigmatization based on homosexuality as well as HIV status. Persistent stigma associated with HIV status and disclosure was cited as a top reason for avoiding HIV-related conversations while meeting new partners using social technologies. Further, social networking sites have different social etiquettes and rules that may increase HIV risk by discouraging HIV status disclosure. Overall, successful interventions for MSM using social networking technologies must consider aspects of privacy, stigma, and social norms in order to enact HIV reduction among MSM.

Comments

Published article with DOI: This article was originally published in AIDS Education and Prevention, available at https://doi.org/10.1521/aeap.2015.27.4.298

Recommended Citation

Ramallo, Jorge; Kidder, Thomas; Albritton, Tashuna; Blick, Gary; Pachankis, John; Grandeleski, Valen; and Kershaw, Trace, "Exploring social networking technologies as tools for HIV prevention for men who have sex with men" (2015). CUNY Academic Works.
https://academicworks.cuny.edu/cm_pubs/1