A Study of the Stigmatisation of the Image of People Living with HIV in Social Media

This study focuses on the stigmatisation of the image of HIV patients in social media. This takes the form of discrimination, offensive remarks and rumours at the verbal level; visually, by reinforcing negative impressions through inappropriate content; and stereotypically, by equating people with HIV with the morally corrupt, the vulnerable, or a dangerous source of infection. Stigma harms mental health and hinders socialisation and treatment for the individual patient, and hinders prevention, treatment and care in the AIDS response; It has a certain impact on social cohesion and exacerbates social inequalities and group antagonisms. The reasons for this include public perception bias and lack of knowledge, traditional attitudes and socio-cultural constraints, and social media communication characteristics. To reduce stigma, strategies such as strengthening social media health education, playing the role of the media and opinion leaders, and establishing patient support communities and psychological intervention mechanisms can be used to promote social understanding and tolerance of people living with HIV, and to promote the prevention and treatment of AIDS.