Social Media can be a powerful tool to reach key organizations, scientists, and policymakers. However, to be effective, you need a strategic approach—not just random posts. To get visibility, tag the right organizations, researchers, and influencers working on herpes research and public health. This can work for all social media platforms, not just X!
Research Institutions & Global Health Organizations
@fredhutch – Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
@NIH – National Institutes of Health
@WHO – World Health Organization
@CDCgov – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
@globalfund – The Global Fund to Fight Diseases
@gavi – Global Vaccine Alliance
@CEPIvaccines – Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations
Pharmaceutical & Biotech Companies
@moderna_tx – Moderna (working on mRNA vaccine for herpes)
@GileadSciences – Leading pharma in antiviral research
@Pfizer – Vaccine and infectious disease research
@Sanofi – Global healthcare company
@Merck – Invests in vaccine development
Scientists, Researchers & Public Health Figures
@DrEricDing – Epidemiologist & science advocate
@PeterHotez – Vaccine expert and infectious disease researcher
@pauloffit – Vaccine researcher
@HelenBranswell – Global health journalist
Influencers & Advocacy Leaders
@EndTheStigma – Advocates for STI destigmatization
@herpesadvocate – Herpes awareness community
@STIProject – STI education and advocacy group
Using a mix of these stakeholders in different posts helps ensure maximum exposure without triggering X’s spam filters.
Example of a High-Impact Post on X
🔥 Over 3.7 BILLION people have HSV-1, yet herpes research is underfunded. Pharma profits from suppressing the virus instead of curing it. We need a cure, not just treatments! @fredhutch @NIH @WHO @moderna_tx @GileadSciences it’s time to invest in real solutions. 📢 Retweet to raise awareness! #CureHerpesNow #FundHerpesResearch
➡️ Follow up with a thread explaining the funding gap, stigma, and scientific advancements.
How AI Can Help You Advocate Faster & More Effectively
AI can speed up your advocacy by generating content, refining your message, and making your posts more impactful.
- ✅ Generate powerful posts – Use AI tools like ChatGPT to create compelling X posts with calls to action.
- ✅ Refine your message – AI can help structure your arguments in a clear, engaging way.
- ✅ Create engaging threads – AI can suggest how to break down complex topics into simple, tweetable points.
- ✅ Translate for a global audience – AI can instantly translate your messages to reach more people.
Example prompt: “Write an X post demanding more funding for herpes research. Mention @fredhutch @NIH @WHO and include the hashtag #CureHerpesNow. Make it urgent and engaging.”
AI will generate a ready-to-use post that you can edit and publish instantly!
Advocate Anonymously: Protect Your Identity While Speaking Out
Many people hesitate to speak about herpes due to stigma. While it can be much more impactful to advocate as a real person if you are willing – that is actually how change is made – person to person. We need real people looking to make real connections.
But, advocacy in any form can bring about change. The more voices, the harder it is to ignore the issue. You can still be an advocate while staying anonymous:
- âś… Create a separate X account (no personal name or photo).
- âś… Use a generic handle (e.g., @CureHSV, @HerpesAdvocate, @EndHerpes).
- ✅ Only post about research & awareness—avoid personal details.
- âś… Engage with communities like @herpesadvocate and other stakeholders.
This way, you contribute to the cause without revealing your identity.
How to Ensure Your Posts Get Noticed
- âś… Tag major research organizations (@fredhutch, @NIH, @WHO, etc.).
- âś… Use 2-3 strong hashtags (#CureHerpesNow, #FundHerpesResearch).
- âś… Post at peak hours (12:00-3:00 PM US/EU, Tuesday-Thursday).
- âś… Reply to and engage with influential accounts (comment, retweet with insights).
- âś… Use threads to explain the issue clearly.
- âś… Ask followers to retweet to boost engagement.
- âś… Include visuals (graphs, images, data) for higher impact.
- ✅ Stay consistent—post regularly, not just once.
- âś… Join X Spaces & live discussions to push the conversation forward.
Your Voice Matters!
The louder we are, the harder we are to ignore. Advocacy made a difference for HIV, HPV, and COVID vaccines—we can do the same for herpes research.
Let’s get organized and demand action.