The relationship between social media use and collective identity among the HIV/AIDS-affected adolescents: from the online social support perspective

ABSTRACT Research has suggested social media use plays an important role in forming collective identity among marginalized groups. From the online social support perspective, this study aims to explore the relationship between social media use and collective identity of HIV/AIDS-affected adolescents. A field survey was conducted in Wen Lou village (a famous Chinese ‘AIDS Village’) and valid questionnaires were completed by the HIV/AIDS-affected adolescents. A linear regression analysis was conducted to detect how demographic variables, social media use and online social support predict the collective identity of the HIV/AIDS-affected adolescents. For social media use, △R2 = 0.157, p < .05; and for online social support, △R2 = 0.358, p < .001, specifically for instrumental support, β = .281, p < .05. Preference for social media use and online social support positively predict their collective identity, but social media use intensity negatively predicts their collective identity. There are no significant differences in the levels of social media use intensity, preference for social media use, online social support and collective identity between different genders of the HIV/AIDS-affected adolescents. The level of ‘ideology’ is quite low, many participants did not show negative emotions for being a member of the ‘AIDS Village’ adolescents, or show hatred to people outside the ‘AIDS Village’.