Social Media - Talking About HIV
posted: 14/02/2011
All is not lost in the world of raising HIV awareness. I Talk Because .... is a cheap-as-chips community HIV awareness social media campaign in the USA. People shoot and upload their own video clips saying why they talk to other people about HIV.
It began in 2009 as a way to put HIV back onto New York people's radars. Going Viral Against HIV and STIs was the first social media conference looking to exploit the potential for HIV of social media and I talk because is just one example.
Dozens of celebrities and others have now uploaded videos with thousands of views. This led Mashable.com, a social media news site, to make ‘I talk because ….’ one of the top five YouTube projects that are ‘making a difference’.
The ‘I Talk because …’ campaign debunks HIV myths and gives the facts, not just amongst peers, but across generations. It encourages conversations within families. And ultimately a willingness to talk is worthwhile because it breaks down boundaries and stigma.
"The stories of real people, and of how HIV has affected their lives, is a powerful way to bring home the message that HIV has not gone away, and that HIV continues its assault every day."
Cheap as chips
Another reason to like this campaign: the cheap-as-chips cost. The recent USA federal government’s campaign It's Never Just HIV cost $726,000 but "I Talk Because ..." is almost free because all the videos are user-generated. And it provides dozens of individual meaningful messages.
We should have more campaigns like this because it helps people realise that it's OK to talk about HIV. Talking encourages testing, and cuts HIV stigma and blame.
Upload vids to I talk because here
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