Behind the screen of stigma: A qualitative case study of digital vulnerability and resistance of the HIV/AIDS community in Indonesia

Abstract

Contemporary digital landscape in a network society offers both potential and risks for marginalized communities such as the HIV/AIDS survivor and supporting communities in Indonesia. Digital platforms can facilitate peer support and information dissemination but also become an arena for reproducing digital stigma. This study aims to critically analyze the dynamics of digital stigma management, including the phenomenon of digital vulnerability and the HIV/AIDS community’s resistance against stigma on social media screens. The study adopts Goffman’s dramaturgy and stigma management framework elaborated with Crenshaw’s intersectionality framework and Castells’ network society. The study was carried out using a qualitative research method based on case studies focusing on three regions of Solo Raya, Indonesia: Surakarta, Sukoharjo, and Boyolali. Data collection was carried out through in-depth interviews with 12 HIV/AIDS survivors and Focus Group Discussions with healthcare workers from Dr. Oen Surakarta Hospital, representatives of local Community Health Centers, the Regional AIDS Commission (KPAD), Peer Support Groups (KDS), AIDS Care Residents (WPA), and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) addressing HIV/AIDS prevention and control issues in Solo Raya. The study found that privacy vulnerabilities stem from negligence in socio-technical practices, where network programs instead expose backstage data, such as HIV status leaks through contact crowdsourcing applications (GetContact). Digital stigma is further exacerbated by intersectional layered stigmas created by sexual orientation, morality issues, disinformation on social media, and biased content moderation. Resistance efforts made by the HIV/AIDS community are dramaturgical in nature, ranging from withdrawal to innovation in an anonymous counseling platform (konselinghiv.com), which builds counter-power and an alternative digital private sphere as a safe network. This research contributes to a paradigm shift from system security to socio-technical safety in digital health interventions and media criticism studies.