Don’t jump! Let’s talk about PrEP!: pre-exposure prophylaxis communication and health education on TikTok (abstract: p. 17)

Abstract

Little is known about pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and the treatment is surrounded by stigma, reinforcing the need for integrated communication and health education strategies in combination HIV prevention. This study investigated public perceptions of PrEP on TikTok, one of the primary search engines among people aged 18 to 24 in 2024. We analyzed 231 comments extracted from 56 videos published between June and December 2024 selected using the four most popular hashtags related to the topic. The categorical content analysis classified the comments as positive, negative and neutral, integrating the data with a review of the specialized literature. The results suggest that TikTok can positively influence public perceptions of PrEP but also highlight the need for critical reflection on the limits and responsibility of digital platforms in containing misinformation.