Introduction:
Social media is increasingly being used as a tool for communication and has been associated with sexual risk. Men who have sex with men (MSM) and racial/ethnic minorities are at an increased risk for contracting human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). Racial/ethnic minorities also use social media at a higher rate than Whites. MSM may use social media to discuss health-related matters or to find sexual partners. The aim of this study was to identify how racial and ethnic MSM minority use social media throughout the course of a twelve-week study. We also sought to explore how variations in social media between these populations might impact sexual risk behavior, such as number of sexual partners.

Material and methods:
Data from a Facebook-based HIV intervention in 2011 and 2012 were evaluated to determine the impact of race and ethnicity on social media use, sexual risk behaviors, and HIV/AIDS stigma.

Results:
Compared with Latinos, African-Americans were less likely to discuss sexual partners, having sex with men, or condom use on social media. Compared with Latinos, Whites and Asians met a greater number of sexual partners using social media and reported higher HIV/AIDS stigma.

Conclusions:
Future behavioral interventions must account for racial and ethnic differences in social media use and sexual risk behaviors among MSM. Intervention development suggestions are discussed.