First posted at THL blog http://wp.me/p1v84h-W7
It’s always interesting trying to track a single event, concept, or condition through Twitter, because so many different hashtags might be used. There truly is no standardized controlled vocabulary, as you would find in MEDLINE. There are strengths and weaknesses of both approaches. The weakness of the open approach is that any one approach won’t catch everything on the topic, and that it can be hard to find all the related terms or tags. So, if you want to be focused or comprehensive, then open web search or hashtags on Twitter isn’t the easiest way to go after a concept. On the flip side, it is absolutely fascinating to track different communities and how they approach any given concept. Working through hashtags almost makes it easier to find just the folk who agree with you, but if you dig deep into the range of hashtags and terms for a concept, you can find these amazing and interesting patterns that reveal less obvious relationships. Wonderful explorations to be had.
Tomorrow is World AIDS Day. There is an official hashtag with a standard format which has been used for years. Even so, many of the official organizations are not using it, instead either abbreviating or spelling out the full name of the event as a single hashtag or breaking the name into many hashtags (#World #AIDS #Day #2012) or other variations. There are also special campaigns with their own hashtags, community hashtags, population hashtags, organization hashtags, disease-specific hashtags, and more. Here are just a few of the ones that appeared without a lot of digging. A surprising range, isn’t it?
Is #WAD2012 #WAD12 trending on twitter yet? So many hashtags, so little time… 😉
— Lisa Campbell (@qnp) November 30, 2012
On World AIDS Day, let’s renew our commitment to zero! We have 1000 days to meet the 2015 global HIV targets ow.ly/fFTG0 #WAD2012
— UNAIDS (@UNAIDS) November 30, 2012
Too many young people think there is a cure for HIV. There is not. Pls RT #WAD2012 bit.ly/Tw71DG
— Justin Trudeau, MP (@JustinTrudeau) November 30, 2012
@justintrudeau You post a video for World AIDS Day but you couldn’t show up for the vote on Bill #C398 Wed? cc:@aidslaw #fixCAMR #cdnpoli
— Ottawa_Jen (@ottawa_jen) November 30, 2012
Dec. 1, 2012, is World AIDS Day. This year’s theme is “Working Together for an AIDS-Free Generation. go.usa.gov/gD6k #WAD2012
— CDCgov (@CDCgov) November 30, 2012
New research indicates 1 in 4 new HIV infections occur in youth 13-24. Learn more in our new #VitalSigns go.usa.gov/g2nW #WAD2012
— Dr. Tom Frieden (@DrFriedenCDC) November 27, 2012
Having a profound moment with @bpbmd2 – when medicine didn’t have an answer, doctors disappeared. Remember. #WAD12 twitter.com/tedeytan/statu…
— Ted Eytan, MD (@tedeytan) November 30, 2012
Mental health probs, substance abuse often co-occur with #HIV/#AIDS. Integrated approach to care is key: bit.ly/qlsoUS #WAD12
— Dr. Gwendolyn Keita (@DrGwenPKeita) November 30, 2012
Sec. Clinton releases “PEPFAR Blueprint: Creating an #AIDS-free Generation” ow.ly/fGWB2 Learn more w/our Policy Tracker #WAD12
— Kaiser Family Found (@KaiserFamFound) November 29, 2012
Desmond Tutu on Architecting the End of AIDS huff.to/ShcZcn via @huffpostimpact #PEPFARBlueprint #EndofAIDS
— Science Speaks Blog (@SciSpeaksBlog) November 30, 2012
#WAW12 RT @wdgpublichealth: Read more about HIV/AIDS Awareness Week and World AIDS Day ow.ly/fzU3h @cdnaids #WAD12
— Taub Health Sci Lib (@MLibraryHealthy) November 27, 2012
RT @whospositive: 10 Ways To Honor World AIDS Day – #HIV #AIDS #WAD2012 #waw12… fb.me/1Y7nUkC9z
— Sexuality Lab (@SexualityLab) November 30, 2012
#NASUWT calls for better HIV education #WAD2012 nasuwt.org.uk/Whatsnew/NASUW…
— NASUWT (@nasuwtunion) November 30, 2012
It you’re squeamish about this, you really should take it! #howHIVawareareyou? Take #WorldAIDSDay quiz and find out hivawarequiz.org.uk/quiz/question-1
— Patrick Conner (@HankIrving) November 30, 2012
1,000 babies are born w/ HIV every day. By 2015 it can be 0. Fight for #endofAIDS #WorldAIDSDay @joinred @onecampaign
— UN Foundation (@unfoundation) November 30, 2012
Today is #WorldAIDSDay. #AIDS is strong, but together we are stronger. #AIDSWillLose. chevron.com/AIDS/
— Chevron (@Chevron) November 30, 2012
Did u know Every 9.5 minutes, someone in the U.S. becomes infected with #HIV. 1/5 don’t know. Get tested. #AIDSWillLose cdc.gov/hiv/resources/…
— Kelley McCarthy (@KMcCarthy8185) November 28, 2012
#HIV is the strongest risk factor in developing active #TB disease. In 2010, 1/5 #HIV deaths due to #TB via: @who. #AIDSWillLose
— Todd Summers (@SummersSays) November 30, 2012
Tomorrow is #WorldAIDSDay – Have Q’s about the global fight against HIV/AIDS? Ask now w/ #WHChat & join the Q&A at 3ET: on.wh.gov/VNv3j7L
— The White House (@whitehouse) November 30, 2012
“If we stay the course, we can end this epidemic.” @billgates urges action on #WorldAIDSDay gates.ly/Vj9mHb
— HarvardPublicHealth (@HarvardHSPH) November 30, 2012
@vj44 @whlive What role does social media play in preventing/ending HIV/AIDS in the US & abroad? #whchat #WAD2012 #mobile #health
— Coretta(@CorettaJackson) November 30, 2012
Thanks for the q @corettajackson! We have lots of info on using new media in response to HIV, check out go.usa.gov/gZZ4 #WHChat
— AIDS.gov (@AIDSgov) November 30, 2012
@vj44 Can WH promote comprehensive sex-ed to help transgender & other at-risk youth populations? What else can be done? #whchat #AIDS
— Trans Student Rights (@Trans_Students) November 30, 2012
How can outreach B done 2 those in the faith community who in this day & age not wanting 2 addr HIV-AIDS & still stereotypin? #WHChat
— Aljorie Stallings (@ebonydiva75) November 30, 2012
How (RED) United the Social Web in the Fight Against AIDS #EndofAIDS mashable.com/2012/05/25/red… via @mashable
— Sue Lowe (@sempersue) November 26, 2012
Nice piece by Michael Gerson on moral pledges we need to honor at the edge of the fiscal cliff, including #HIV #AIDS: wapo.st/RoAO4Z
— Bryan Callahan (@bryancallahan) November 30, 2012
Every day 900 children are infected with #HIV. I pledge to do my part to help end pediatric #AIDS. thndr.it/RR3GzD
— C.C. Chapman (@cc_chapman) November 30, 2012
RT @niaidnews: Read the NIH World AIDS Day statement: go.usa.gov/gj6d #WAD2012 #HIV
— NLM SIS (@NLM_SIS) November 30, 2012
Did you know that 63% of all young people living with #HIV are young women:?ow.ly/fIp34 #WorldAIDSday ow.ly/fIp34
— Girl Up (@GirlUp) November 30, 2012
Troubling increases in #HIV among yng gay/bi-men – join CDC chat, 12/3 at 1PM ET on empowering men #EmprYngMen bit.ly/USYk5D #WAD2012
— AIDS.gov (@AIDSgov) November 28, 2012
So close yet so far: HIV Stigma stands in way of an #AIDSfree Generation @aids_united’s Michael Kaplan @huffpostimpact huff.to/TwyMvK
— C.Fox Communications (@CFoxComm) November 30, 2012
A6 “Abstinence only programs don’t work. Young people & adults want to have healthy sexual lives.” uni.cf/X8PQ0w #AIDSfree #Reddit
— UNICEF (@UNICEF) November 30, 2012
The National HIV/AIDS Strategy addresses stigma & discrimination. Read about it at aids.gov. #WAD2012 #NHAS
— Linda Lawson (@LindaLawson2) November 30, 2012
Getting to Zero for Women: Violence Is the Fatal Flaw in the National HIV/AIDS Strategy rmdy.hm/esW #wad2012 #pwn #nhas
— The Body (@TheBodyDotCom) November 29, 2012
“The bill was defeated and this means there will be fewer lives saved and more new infections.” | soc.li/CLXzN5E | #FixCAMR #C398
— Naheed Dosani (@NaheedD) November 30, 2012
Dr Alan Whiteside is a world-renowned authority on AIDS He noticed what Canadians failed to do this week soc.li/CLXzN5E #fixCAMR #c398
— Jane Philpott (@janephilpott) November 30, 2012
Retweeted from @01000001__The HIV info & stats as of the 3rd quarter of 2012: pnac.org.ph/uploads/docume… #zeroHIVph #WAD2012 @theredwhistle
— Jacob Clavano (@jacobclavano) November 30, 2012
I support the worldwide project, UNITE 2012 : the fight against AIDS and HIV #GettingToZero #ZeroHIVph @headshot_clinic twitter.com/iamaileen/stat…
— Aileen Adalid (@iamaileen) November 30, 2012
This annoys me! It needn’t be the case! BBC News – Highest-ever HIV diagnoses in gay men bbc.in/TtYBQg #HIV #AIDS #wearacondom
— Callum Swansborough (@calluminpjs) November 29, 2012
WE are the cure to the global pandemic we call AIDS!! How? Be Informed! Engage! Unite! #hscUNITE #zeroHIVph #BeTheCure @theredwhistle
— Noriel Calaguas (@kumuNHOY) November 28, 2012
Tomorrow is World Aids Day… have you been tested? Here’s all you need to know about the process bit.ly/Ydv4hK #HIV #knowyourstatus
— Health24.com (@Health24com) November 30, 2012
@jon_avila @arnoldaninion @marayokohama headshots out now facebook.com/headshotclinic #hscUNITE #zeroHIVph
— Niccolo Cosme (@niccolocosme) November 30, 2012
Durex is working for an HIV-free generation. RT #1SHARE1CONDOM & trigger a condom donation this #WorldAidsDay bit.ly/SxoWZo
— Stephen Fry (@stephenfry) November 30, 2012
New @cdcmmwr #VitalSigns data: majority of youth living with HIV are unaware they’re infected go.usa.gov/g2Jd @cdc_drfenton #WAD2012
— AIDS.gov (@AIDSgov) November 27, 2012
Tomorrow @kadunaconnect and @newsbytesnow will be talking on HIV/AIDs so plz join our #OpenConversation for tomorrow
— KADUNA Connect(@KADUNAconnect) November 30, 2012
#Zero discrimination, #Zero new #HIV infections , #Zero #AIDS related deaths ~~ #gettingtoZero #WorldAidsDay2012
— Özge Zorlu (@o_zorlu) November 30, 2012
@gmfa_uk Have you checked out our comedy #HIVhop video to help tackle stigma and prejudice bit.ly/TPJhss #WAD2012
— Centre for HIV (@CentreHIV) November 30, 2012
#WorldAIDSDay tomorrow! #dance4life events in Barbados, India, Nepal, Russa, Serbia, South Africa, Spain, Thailand, USA & Vietnam!
— dance4lifeUSA (@dance4lifeUSA) November 30, 2012
Learn about HIV/AIDS in the Caribbean with our Emmy Award-winning production Live.Hope.Love bit.ly/v4EVU #VIVAGLAMx2
— Pulitzer Center (@Pulitzercenter) November 30, 2012
Call toll-free, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, at:1-800-CDC-INFO (800-232-4636) #WAD
— Sonya Marie (@sonyasunbeam) November 30, 2012
NLM has resources on HIV/AIDS for those 50 and over: go.usa.gov/ruGJ #HIVplus50 #WAD2012
— NLM SIS (@NLM_SIS) November 30, 2012
What is #PEPFAR doing with “Populations at Greatest Risk of #HIV“? @mngreenall takes a look ow.ly/fHQ3V #WAD2012
— How Matters (@intldogooder) November 30, 2012
Combating Pediatric #HIV in #Uganda through the #USAID SUSTAIN Project ow.ly/fILwn #WorldAIDSDay #globalhealth
— URC (@urcchs) November 30, 2012
FACT: Women are up to X3 more likely to be living with #HIV if they have experienced violence: ow.ly/fFzIQ #WAD2012 #16days
— DFID (@DFID_UK) November 29, 2012
“she didnt die from the virus she couldnt take the #stigma anymore. People putting lysol on her chair #HIV didnt kill her stigma did”
— Sabrina (@Sabrillionaire) November 30, 2012
It’s #WorldAIDSDay tomorrow. Here’s a photo gallery showing the good work of our partners across the world bit.ly/Ro618l #HIV #stigma
— Christian Aid Global (@CA_global) November 30, 2012
Lovely: Reverend Eric Williams & Jannette Berkley-Patton storycorps.org/listen/stories… @storycorps #HIV #AIDS #LGBT #stigma #TrueLove
— Maaza (@maazaland) November 30, 2012
#AIDS discrimination & #stigma is still No. 1 reason people don’t want to get tested reports @who: buff.ly/Tvnlrd
— CHATpdx (@CHATpdx) November 30, 2012
Reading @bilericoproject: Study: Access to HIV Services Worldwide Stunted by Homophobia bileri.co/V8UoOo #lgbt #lgbtq #queer #HIV #AIDS
— Jeremy Redlien (@queerthecloset) November 29, 2012
It’s time to get rid of laws that criminalize #HIV: bit.ly/TwNB4E #WAD2012 #AIDS #LGBT
— Lambda Legal (@LambdaLegal) November 30, 2012
Just in time for #WAD, Drs. Koh and Valdiserri reflect on the progress we’ve made over the last 31 years #NHAS go.usa.gov/gW3R
— AIDS.gov (@AIDSgov) November 30, 2012