Digital Lifelines: A Phenomenological study of social support in alter communities of Filipino MSMLHIVs on X (Twitter)

Lead Researcher(s): Maurice Jitty M. Villaester
Status: Published

Abstract/summary: The Philippines faces a rapidly growing HIV epidemic, and Filipino men who have sex with men living with HIV (MSMLHIVs) encounter stigma that limits access to information, peer support, and care. Many create anonymous alter accounts on X (formerly Twitter) to disclose status, seek advice, and build community. This study examines how alter spaces function as psychosocial infrastructures for Filipino MSMLHIVs. Using descriptive phenomenology, the researcher purposively recruited five adult Filipino MSMLHIVs who actively use alter accounts. Each completed a one-on-one, semi-structured interview conducted online or face-to-face. Data were analyzed with Colaizzi’s seven-step method. Alter spaces operated as lifelines that provided (1) emotional validation and reduced isolation, (2) peer mentorship on treatment, mental health, and everyday coping, and (3) a cyclical shift from support-seeking to support-giving that reinforced reciprocity. Participants described greater adherence motivation, self-acceptance, and future orientation. Risks coexisted: misinformation, emotional-labor fatigue, privacy threats (e.g., doxxing, account loss), and the fragility of purely online ties. Alter communities on X offer stigma-free channels for knowledge exchange, advocacy, and belonging but require safeguards to mitigate risks. Platform designers, healthcare providers, and advocates should integrate verified health content, mental health first-aid resources, and stronger privacy protections alongside inclusive policies that ensure continuity of care and counter stigma. This study reframes alter spaces as vital psychosocial infrastructures for men who have sex with men living with HIV in stigmatized settings.

Keywords:

  • descriptive phenomenology
  • MSMLHIVs
  • alter accounts
  • HIV stigma
  • Colaizzi’s method
  • Twitter
  • digital ethnography
  • social media networks
Downloadable PDF