For Young People, Now’s the Time to Talk About HIV

For Generation Z, a cohort that’s coming of age in the aftermath of a global pandemic, the AIDS crisis of the ‘80s and ‘90s seems like ancient history, if not irrelevant. Breakthrough drugs, including one that can effectively block transmission of HIV, mean infection is no longer a death sentence. 

But for young Black people, the epidemic never really ended.

Despite decades of progress in treating and preventing HIV/AIDS, Black adolescents and young adults continue to face disproportionately high rates of new infections, driven in part by shame, stigma and silence. At the same time, the systems meant to protect them, from schools to healthcare, are still falling short.

RELATED: Centering Black Women and Girls in the Fight Against HIV/AIDS 

To reverse the trend, healthcare providers, advocates, and local public health departments nationwide are joining forces, using events and ad campaigns to remind young people: HIV is still prevalent and should be taken seriously. 

“The reality is that young people are overlooking HIV, and that must change,” Bithiah Lafontant, director of communications for ViiV Healthcare, said in a statement. 

Link Between HIV and STIs

According to available data, young people aged 13-24 accounted for 18% of all new HIV diagnoses nationwide in 2023. That year, only 28% of young adults aged 18–24 said they had ever been tested for HIV — an indication that a significant number of people in this age group are unaware of their HIV status.  

As with adults, Black youth are disproportionately affected, and they made up 47% of new HIV diagnoses among youth in 2023. Black women and girls accounted for half of all women and girls in the age group who were newly diagnosed with HIV. 

Experts say the combined lack of comprehensive sex education, low rates of HIV testing, and low awareness of ways to prevent transmission of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections is likely fueling these high infection rates. There were 2.4 million cases of STIs reported in the United States in 2023, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The good news is that this was a slight decrease from 2022. But for Black Americans the bad news was really bad. 

Fear of Judgment

That year, almost half of reported cases of chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis were among adolescents and young adults 15 to 24 years old. And roughly one-third of those cases (32.4%) were among Black Americans, despite representing just under 13% of the U.S. population. And STIs can increase the risk of HIV transmission because sores or small tears in the skin can expose individuals to the virus.

In recent years, studies have found that sex education in U.S. high schools has been inconsistent and, in some cases, diminished, leaving many students without extensive instruction on HIV and sexual health before they become sexually active.

Meanwhile, HIV-related stigma, including fear of judgment and discrimination, continues to discourage many young people from getting tested or seeking care, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. They note that stigma can directly deter people from engaging in HIV testing and prevention services.

For those reasons, healthcare providers, advocates, and local public health departments nationwide used April 10 — National Youth HIV & AIDS Awareness Day — to draw renewed attention to the persistent impact of HIV among young people in the United States. 

‘Stop Making it Weird’

On Threads, for example, Bros in Convo, a Florida-based initiative that connects Black queer men, posted an appeal to its followers to get tested. They also tackled the stigma head-on. 

“Getting tested should be as normal as any other check-up, but the judgment makes it feel like a way bigger deal than it actually is,” according to the post. “Knowing your status is just looking out for yourself and your people. 

The community must “stop making it weird,” the post says. “We’re getting tested, we’re supporting our friends living with HIV, and we’re leaving the judgment in the past.”

For its part, ViiV, the pharmaceutical manufacturer, launched an ad campaign, “Still Here,” aimed squarely at Gen Z. 

The quick-cut ad features HIV, personified as a shadowy, menacing figure in a black leather trenchcoat and leather gloves, with a TV screen for a face. At first despondent that people are no longer talking about it, the figure gradually becomes energized as it realizes that the lack of attention is an opportunity for it to thrive. 

As its TV face flashes with images of the young people it will infect — black, white, queer, and straight — the figure warns, “While you ignore me, I’m still out here, changing lives.” 

An Important First Step

ViiV created “Still Here” to “connect with this audience in a new way about HIV,” Lafontant said. 

Raising awareness of both pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP — the drug that is 99% effective at blocking HIV transmission — and care for HIV-positive patients is vital to changing health outcomes. Experts say PrEP has been a game-changer, but in 2024, only 9 people aged 13 to 24 were using PrEP for every person diagnosed. Studies have also found that PrEP availability is significantly lower in Black communities than in white communities. 

LEARN MORE: Alarming Trend Shows Maternal Syphilis Surging in the U.S.

“Today, there are many options when it comes to HIV prevention, and condoms are one aspect of a comprehensive approach to sexual health and wellness,” Lafontant, ViiV’s communications director, said in her statement. “Having different options, including long-acting injectable PrEP and treatment options, can help people overcome common barriers, such as stigma and adherence.” 

“We work closely with people living with HIV and others in the community to best understand their needs and work together to find solutions,” says Lafontant. “The communities most disproportionately impacted by HIV are often those least aware of options to prevent and treat HIV, so getting people talking is an important first step.”

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