Filipino youth who use social media know more about HIV—but not its treatment options

UPD findings can guide targeted digital strategies to boost HIV literacy, combat stigma, and improve youth health outcomes.

Filipino youth who use social media are more likely to be knowledgeable about HIV, but not about treatment options.

The finding comes from a study by Xavier Javines Bilon of the University of the Philippines Diliman School of Statistics, published in the international journal AIDS Care in July 2025. Its findings were highlighted in an Aug. 27 blog post by the UP Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs.

The study looked at whether digital media use—specifically social media and online news or articles—to obtain information about sex is linked to better HIV knowledge and awareness of antiretroviral therapy, or ART, among Filipino youth aged 15 to 24.

Using national survey data from more than 10,000 participants, the study found that young people who used social media for sex-related information were more likely to have good knowledge about HIV.

However, this was not the case for awareness of ART.

Using internet media such as news sites and online articles, meanwhile, was not linked to better HIV knowledge or treatment awareness.

The findings highlight gaps in understanding the factors influencing comprehensive HIV knowledge and ART awareness, particularly among adolescents and young adults.

The UP post said the study offers practical insights for HIV education in middle-income countries like the Philippines, where young people widely use digital platforms such as internet media and social media.

It also highlights the need for public health programs to better leverage digital media by providing accurate and accessible content on both HIV prevention and treatment.

The findings can inform targeted digital strategies to strengthen HIV health literacy, reduce stigma, and ultimately improve health outcomes among adolescents and young adults.