Gen Z may have the power to end long-running stigmas

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Gen Z may have the power to end long-running stigmas

Illustration by Abigail Gleeson

Rachel Spiller, Contributing Writer

Generation Z, those born between mid-to-late 90s and early 2010s, is the first generation to have grown up with easy access to information and communication through technology. 

They are also more socially conscious and open-minded than previous generations, making them stronger advocates for equality, justice and inclusivity. 

For years, HIV and STIs have been stigmatized, while people living with them were highly discriminated against and ostracized from society. Past generations had less access to information on these viruses, which ultimately led to misinformation and stereotypes. 

With the rise of social media, people in today’s age are more comfortable with sharing their experiences and stories with the world, and it can be a very helpful tool for education.

Zach Willmore, a 19-year-old student from California, was recently diagnosed with HIV and since has been vlogging his experience on TikTok. With over 1.5 million followers, his platform has helped increase awareness and education on the virus, debunking many myths that have been circulated around it throughout the years.

“This honestly feels like the ends of the world to me,” Willmore said in the first video posted to his HIV vlogging series, to which he quickly retracted weeks later after learning more about his diagnosis. 

An HIV diagnosis is not the end of the world, but a path to a new beginning. With proper treatment and medication, those living with HIV can lead long and normal lives. Recent advancements in science and technology have even allowed those living with it to be undetectable and untransmittable, meaning they cannot sexually transmit the virus to others. 

Since his diagnosis, Willmore has gained a more positive outlook on the news, while also informing an entire new generation of people who know little to nothing about the basics of HIV and STIs.

Willmore has also received an overwhelming amount of backlash since sharing his story on the internet. One Twitter user stated you were born too late to explore the earth, too early to explore the stars, but just in time to see zoomers vlog their HIV diagnosis.

A series on TikTok has done more in educating me on HIV than I ever received in school. Public schools do not teach nearly enough as they should on sex education, and in my experience most of what’s taught is just biased opinions and scare-tactics.

Sex education in schools is important for people to learn safe-sex practices, preventative measures and have a better understanding of the risks that come with being sexually active. Oftentimes, parents would rather their children have “the talk” at school than at home, but when that talk is biased, how much good can it do?

This semester, I had the opportunity to take CreateAthon at VCU, where students work with local nonprofit organizations to create an advertising campaign. My given nonprofit, the Nationz Foundation, assists in the advocacy and education in the Richmond LGBTQIA+ community on HIV, STIs and public health.

Around the same time I began working on this project, Willmore announced his diagnosis and began his on-going series of living with HIV. This was pretty crazy timing, being that I was just beginning to learn more about this topic for research. These two resources have taught me more about HIV and STIs than anything I had previously learned and have also allowed me to share knowledge with those who are unaware.

Using social media as a tool to spread awareness on topics such as these helps implement education, prevent misinformation, and reminds us that we are all people, no matter our status.

While social networks can still have damaging effects, using it as a tool for education is a step in the right direction for upcoming generations. Gen Z has the power to change the way people use social media for the better, end stigmas and become more educated overall. 

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