I remember it like it was yesterday.
I was mindlessly scrolling through TikTok, minding my own business, trying to find the little glimmers in life—you know, cute dog videos, a mind-blowing recipe, or maybe a funny meme—when I stumbled on something that made my stomach turn.
A video of a 22-year-old woman casually bragging about how many people she had knowingly infected with HIV. I paused, not sure if I had heard that right. Maybe this was some version of a sick joke or a twisted ad for a horror flick. So, I kept scrolling.
But then another video popped up. This time, a 23-year-old proudly detailing how she’d infected 56 men with HIV as part of a twisted “revenge mission.”
I couldn’t believe it. Was this real life? Since when did spreading HIV—actually infecting people with a life-altering virus—become a flex?
I needed answers (beyond the obvious fact that some people have lost their damn minds).
So, I did what any truth-seeker with a WiFi connection would do: I dug deep. I combed through research papers, reports, and statistics—and what I discovered was eye-opening.
Gen Z, the generation we often associate with being progressive, woke, and digitally savvy, is not only the most clueless when it comes to HIV/AIDs but also the generation with the highest HIV rates as of 2024.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, an estimated 21% of new HIV infections occur among teenagers and young adults between 12 and 24 years old (with 37% of this age group already living with HIV).
Shockingly, only 34% of Gen Z (born between 1997 and 2012) are knowledgeable about the virus.
In comparison, about 62% of Gen X (1965-1980), 50% of Millennials (1981-1996), and 46% of Baby Boomers (1946-1964) are knowledgeable about HIV.
So why are the Gen Z numbers so alarming? Why is this generation—arguably the most educated, with easy access to information—so uninformed about a virus that has claimed millions of lives?
According to Dr. Ankrehah Trimble Johnson, DO (also known as Dr. Kre), the answer lies in a disconnect between what Gen Z knows and what they believe.
“With the decline in sex education in schools leaving many young people uninformed, and because of [HIV prevention medication] PrEP, some consider HIV as less of a threat and may engage in riskier sexual behaviors,” she shared with Ebony Magazine.
A board-certified family medicine physician, Dr. Kre serves as the medical director of the Living Well PrEP Clinic in Alabama, where she works tirelessly to prevent HIV prevalence one case at a time.
“Members of Gen Z seem to make up the majority of new patients I experience,” she added.
What Can We Do About It?
The best and only way to combat the spread of HIV is through education and access.
We need to stop assuming that this young generation knows everything about HIV and has the tools to protect themselves. Instead, we should adopt more creative, engaging ways to teach them how to stay safe.
We also need to “implement better sex education in our communities since it’s not being taught in schools as much, and increase access to PrEP, along with easier access to HIV testing,” Dr. Kre suggested.
These measures could profoundly impact Gen Z’s awareness and behavior.
As for those flaunting their infection rates online, it’s time to hold them accountable. Yes, sharing your diagnosis is bold and brave, but intentionally spreading HIV is not just reckless; it’s criminal, and thus, accountability must follow.
At the same time, we can’t overlook the emotional toll of an HIV diagnosis because, as Dr. Kre explained, reactions to the news haven’t changed much since the 80s.
“At the height of the AIDS pandemic in the 1980s, when medications were still being developed, a diagnosis of this virus was devastating,” she shared. “As much as things have changed, some remain the same.”
She continued: “The reaction to the diagnosis has been variable. I’ve seen ‘relief’ from the standpoint that this is the worst that one can get so they can live their life as freely as they would like.”
“I’ve also seen Gen Z members diagnosed and be devastated. The reaction has been across the board.” But while the initial shock can be overwhelming, Dr. Kre wants everyone to know that an HIV diagnosis isn’t what it once was.
Thanks to medical advancement, people with the virus can now lead full, healthy lives, something more young people are working to normalize.
25 Years old.
5 years with HIV.
Undetectable for 4!
I’m Healthy , thriving Life is good!❤️#EndTheStigma https://t.co/hOvpP9m8WU pic.twitter.com/hCSRS8WLsg— ohsoyoudoingthebending? (@soulidt) December 5, 2023
In 2023, several young Black men joined the #EndtheStigma campaign to encourage others to embrace life beyond their diagnosis.
“If you are new to the diagnosis, get HIV treatment as soon as you find out. Do not delay care,” Dr. Kre advised. “Seek mental health therapy and support. If you do not have a community that supports you, build one. Mentally, there will be highs and lows. Do not face the disease alone.”
While prevention is key, “Medications are amazing in this day and age. Most people are on one pill a day. You can survive this and live a long, healthy life,” she added.
Still, prevention remains the best defense, and that starts with open, honest conversations about sexual health.
“To reduce the number of HIV/AIDs cases in Gen Z, we need to have hard conversations. Have hard conversations with your partners, kids, students, and community. Get tested at your local health department if you do not have a primary care doctor or are uninsured,” Dr. Kre said.
“And use condoms. Protection is prevention!”
