Long-Term HIV Survivor Discovers the Power of Twitter

Social media isn't just for the kids to give people a blow-by-blow of their day -- it's also being used to raise awareness around a range of important issues. The Chicago Tribune reported on the impact that Rae Lewis-Thornton, a popular blogger and long-term HIV survivor, has had using Twitter to spread the word about HIV, especially among African Americans.

Lewis-Thornton, 48, admits that she was reluctant to start using Twitter -- she didn't think keeping the message under 140 characters would translate to people. But 2,000 plus followers and 20,000 tweets later, her tune has changed. "I call this hard-core activism," she said. "I'm reminding you on a daily basis that AIDS is real. If you have AIDS you can live with it; I'm an example of that. I want you to see the life -- the good, the bad and the ugly."