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Swipe Right: Dating Website and App Use Among Men Who Have Sex With Men

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Abstract

This study explored the frequency of dating website and app usage among MSM to understand sub-group differences in use. Web-based survey data (N = 3105) were analyzed to assess the use of dating websites and apps. More than half (55.7%) of MSM in this sample were frequent users of dating websites and apps. Two-thirds (66.7%) of frequent users had casual partners only in the past 12 months and reported a high average number of casual sexual partners in the past 12 months (Mdn = 5.0) compared to never users (Mdn = 0.0; χ (2)(2) = 734.94, adj. p < .001). The most frequently used dating website or app was Grindr, with 60.2% of the sample reporting some or frequent use. Adam4Adam (23.5%), Jack'd (18.9%) and Scruff (18.7%) were also frequently used. Dating websites and apps may be effective channels to reach a diverse group of MSM with HIV prevention messages.
ORIGINAL PAPER
Swipe Right: Dating Website and App Use Among Men Who Have
Sex With Men
Hannah J. Badal
1,3
Jo Ellen Stryker
1
Nickolas DeLuca
2
David W. Purcell
1
Published online: 7 September 2017
ÓSpringer Science+Business Media, LLC (outside the USA) 2017
Abstract This study explored the frequency of dating
website and app usage among MSM to understand sub-
group differences in use. Web-based survey data
(N=3105) were analyzed to assess the use of dating
websites and apps. More than half (55.7%) of MSM in this
sample were frequent users of dating websites and apps.
Two-thirds (66.7%) of frequent users had casual partners
only in the past 12 months and reported a high average
number of casual sexual partners in the past 12 months
(Mdn =5.0) compared to never users (Mdn =0.0;
v
2
(2) =734.94, adj. p \.001). The most frequently used
dating website or app was Grindr, with 60.2% of the
sample reporting some or frequent use. Adam4Adam
(23.5%), Jack’d (18.9%) and Scruff (18.7%) were also
frequently used. Dating websites and apps may be effective
channels to reach a diverse group of MSM with HIV pre-
vention messages.
Resumen Este estudio exploro
´la frecuencia de uso de
sitios web y aplicaciones para buscar pareja entre hombres
que tienen sexo con hombres (HSH), con el fin de com-
prender las diferencias en el uso entre sub-grupos. Se
analizaron datos de una encuesta realizada por internet
(N=3105) para evaluar el uso de dichos sitios y aplica-
ciones. Ma
´s de la mitad (55.7%) de HSH en esta muestra
eran usuarios frecuentes de sitios web y aplicaciones para
buscar pareja. Dos tercios (66.7%) de los usuarios fre-
cuentes tuvieron u
´nicamente parejas casuales en los 12
meses previos y reportaron un alto nu
´mero de parejas
sexuales casuales en los 12 meses anteriores (Mdn =5.0),
en comparacio
´n con quienes nunca habı
´an sido usuarios
(Mdn =0.0; v
2
(2) =734.94, adj. p \.001). El sitio web o
aplicacio
´n utilizado con mayor frecuencia fue Grindr, con
el 60.2% de la muestra reportando uso ocasional o fre-
cuente. Adam4Adam (23.5%), Jack’d (18.9%) y Scruff
(18.7%) tambie
´n se usaron con frecuencia. Los sitios web y
aplicaciones para buscar pareja podrı
´an ser canales efec-
tivos para alcanzar un grupo diverso de HSH con mensajes
para la prevencio
´n del VIH.
Keywords Dating apps Online HIV prevention Gay
MSM
Introduction
Gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men
(collectively referred to as MSM) continue to be the group
most disproportionately affected by HIV. While MSM are
estimated to make up 2% of the overall population in the
United States [1], surveillance data for 2014 indicate that
70% of HIV diagnoses were among MSM (including MSM
who inject drugs) [2]. Additionally, significant health dis-
parities exist by race/ethnicity. While the lifetime risk of
HIV infection for all Americans is estimated to be 1 in 99,
the lifetime risk HIV infection for MSM overall is 1 in 6—
for black or African American (hereafter referred to as
black) MSM 1 in 2, and for Hispanic/Latino (hereafter
&Hannah J. Badal
h.badal@u.northwestern.edu
1
Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, National Center for HIV/
AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
2
Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
3
Department of Communication Studies, School of
Communication, Northwestern University, 710 Lakeshore
Drive, 15th Floor, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
123
AIDS Behav (2018) 22:1265–1272
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-017-1882-7
Content courtesy of Springer Nature, terms of use apply. Rights reserved.
... Young men who have sex with men and young transgender women (YMSM-YTW) primarily use websites and mobile apps to find sexual partners [1]. However, there is a body of evidence that suggests that racial and ethnic minority YMSM-YTW experience online dating differently than majority populations [2][3][4][5]. ...
... Similar to previous work, we found that racial and ethnic minority YMSM-YTW report using apps to find sexual partners outside of Grindr [1,29,30]. In an online survey of diverse MSM aged 18-64 years living in the United States and Puerto Rico conducted in 2014-2015, Black MSM were more likely to frequently use Jack'd, Adam4Adam, and BGCLive than either White or Latino MSM [1]. ...
... Similar to previous work, we found that racial and ethnic minority YMSM-YTW report using apps to find sexual partners outside of Grindr [1,29,30]. In an online survey of diverse MSM aged 18-64 years living in the United States and Puerto Rico conducted in 2014-2015, Black MSM were more likely to frequently use Jack'd, Adam4Adam, and BGCLive than either White or Latino MSM [1]. Their study found a higher proportion of Latino MSM frequently used Grindr than either Black or White MSM, while we found a higher proportion of White non-Hispanic YMSM-YTW compared to Latinx YMSM-YTW. ...
Article
Background Young men who have sex with men and young transgender women (YMSM-YTW) use online spaces to meet sexual partners with increasing regularity, and research shows that experiences of racism online mimics the real world. Objective We analyzed differences by race and ethnicity in web-based and mobile apps used to meet sexual partners as reported by Chicago-based YMSM-YTW in 2016‐2017. Methods A racially and ethnically diverse sample of 643 YMSM-YTW aged 16‐29 years were asked to name websites or mobile apps used to seek a sexual partner in the prior 6 months, as well as provide information about sexual partnerships from the same period. We used logistic regression to assess the adjusted association of race and ethnicity with (1) use of any website or mobile apps to find a sexual partner, (2) use of a “social network” to find a sexual partner compared to websites or mobile apps predominantly used for dating or hookups, (3) use of specific websites or mobile apps, and (4) reporting successfully meeting a sexual partner online among website or mobile app users. Results While most YMSM-YTW (454/643, 70.6%) used websites or mobile apps to find sexual partners, we found that Black non-Hispanic YMSM-YTW were significantly less likely to report doing so (comparing White non-Hispanic to Black non-Hispanic: adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.74, 95% CI 1.10‐2.76). Black non-Hispanic YMSM-YTW were more likely to have used a social network site to find a sexual partner (comparing White non-Hispanic to Black non-Hispanic: aOR 0.20, 95% CI 0.11‐0.37), though this was only reported by one-third (149/454, 32.8%) of all app-using participants. Individual apps used varied by race and ethnicity, with Grindr, Tinder, and Scruff being more common among White non-Hispanic YMSM-YTW (93/123, 75.6%; 72/123, 58.5%; and 30/123, 24.4%, respectively) than among Black non-Hispanic YMSM-YTW (65/178, 36.5%; 25/178, 14%; and 4/178, 2.2%, respectively) and Jack’d and Facebook being more common among Black non-Hispanic YMSM-YTW (105/178, 59% and 64/178, 36%, respectively) than among White non-Hispanic YMSM-YTW (6/123, 4.9% and 8/123, 6.5%, respectively). Finally, we found that while half (230/454, 50.7%) of YMSM-YTW app users reported successfully meeting a new sexual partner on an app, Black non-Hispanic YMSM-YTW app users were less likely to have done so than White non-Hispanic app users (comparing White non-Hispanic to Black non-Hispanic: aOR 2.46, 95% CI 1.50‐4.05). Conclusions We found that Black non-Hispanic YMSM-YTW engaged with websites or mobile apps and found sexual partners systematically differently than White non-Hispanic YMSM-YTW. Our findings give a deeper understanding of how racial and ethnic sexual mixing patterns arise and have implications for the spread of sexually transmitted infections among Chicago’s YMSM-YTW.
... With over 13.5 million users in 2023 and expected upward trends, ODA use is becoming increasingly prevalent (Statista, 2024). While ODAs are typically used by 40-50% of the general population, studies indicate a higher prevalence among MSM, with estimated usage rates reaching 78%, with many meeting sexual partners through these platforms and a significant number engaging daily (Badal, Stryker, DeLuca, & Purcell, 2018;Blanc, 2023;Sumter & Vandenbosch, 2019). Geolocation features in popular ODAs like Tinder and Grindr facilitate both online and offline interactions, leading to sexual encounters (Miles, 2017). ...
Article
Full-text available
Background and aims Online dating applications (ODAs) are gaining popularity, raising concerns about their potential addictive effects on users' health. The main objective of this study was to investigate the association between problematic ODA use and mental health, substance use, and sexual behavior outcomes in men-who-have-sex-with-men (MSM). To achieve this, we first validated a German version of the Problematic ODA Use Scale (PODAUS), which assesses problematic ODA usage patterns. Methods Problematic ODA use was assessed in 226 HIV-negative MSM counseling for HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis at baseline and 6-month follow-up ( n = 164, M age = 42, SD = 11). The German PODAUS was validated using confirmatory factor analyses (CFA) and correlational analysis. Multiple linear regression analyses were performed to investigate associations of PODAUS with mental, sexual health, and substance use outcomes. Results CFA supported PODAUS’ 6-item unidimensional structure, demonstrating excellent fit indices. Reliability analyses indicated good internal consistency ( α = 0.79) and high test-retest reliability ( r s = 0.68). Regarding mental health, significant positive associations were found between PODAUS and symptoms of depression, loneliness, anxiety, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and impulsivity, with medium to large effect sizes. Regarding sexual health, significant negative associations of small to medium effect sizes were found between PODAUS and lifetime prevalence of sexually transmitted infections, body acceptance, and sexual fulfillment, while a significant positive association with trait sex motivation occurred. Discussion and Conclusion The German version of PODAUS emerges as a valid, reliable tool to assess problematic ODA use. In an MSM sample, problematic ODA use was associated with lower mental and sexual health.
... При этом исследования доказывают, что, вопреки популярному мнению, мотив поиска любви и долгосрочных отношений оказался более популярным, чем поиск краткосрочных отношений (Sumter et al., 2017). До 70% пользователей приложений для знакомства указали, что их целью не являлся поиск сексуального партнера (Badal et al., 2018). ...
Article
Foreign demographic and marketing studies show that online dating services are gaining popularity among young people, especially among university students. At the same time, there has not been a unified classification of goals and motives for dating online which are important both for understanding aspects of population’s marital behavior and for developing such services. In Russian scientific discourse, the topic of meeting students through online dating services remains underexplored. This study is aimed at identifying the main goals of dating in the context of long-term (marriage, having children, love and friendship) and shortterm dating and analyzing the influence of demographic characteristics of Russian students on them. The survey involved 3085 students who had experience in online dating. In the first step, probabilistic probit models were built with 8 dating targets. In the second step, based on factor analysis, dating goals were grouped and additional analysis was carried out on strengthened groups of long-term and short-term dating goals. The following modeling results were obtained: (1) men more often than women pursue both short-term and long-term aims; (2) the popularity of short-term relationships in online space grows with the age of a student; (3) students at universities in the capital are more inclined to get acquainted with long-term goals; (4) marriage, birth and/or raising children is not a priority for students. Yet, longterm relationships with a partner among students are more widespread than short-term ones.
... Grindr was selected because of its popularity as a sexual networking or hookup app among SMM. [31][32][33][34][35] Grindr ads were online from February 29 through March 23, 2024. ...
Article
Full-text available
Purpose: Although rural sexual minority men (SMM) use substances immediately before/during sex (i.e., sexualized drug use), the factors contributing to this behavior are unknown. We examined the factors associated with past year sexualized drug use among rural SMM. Methods: Rural SMM in the Southern region of the United States (N = 345) completed an online cross-sectional survey from February to March 23, 2024. Participants answered questions about their sexualized drug use behaviors, sexual behaviors, minority stressors, and demographics. We conducted a hierarchical logistic regression to estimate the adjusted odds ratios (aORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for factors associated with past year sexualized drug use. Findings: Over three-quarters of participants (79.7%) used substances immediately before/during sex in the past year. Sexualized drug use was associated with exposure to sexual minority stressors, polysubstance use, sexually transmitted infection testing, having oral sex, receiving drugs from a man in exchange for sex, and older age. Conclusion: Sexualized drug use is prevalent among rural SMM, and sexual minority stressors and past year sexual risk and substance misuse behaviors were contributing factors. Rural primary care clinics, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) service organizations, and outpatient and inpatient substance use organizations should implement integrative sexual and substance use screening, counseling, and referral services for their rural clients.
... Web-based recruitment methods, including the use of social media and dating apps, present an alternative approach that has gained popularity for recruiting young gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men [17][18][19][20][21]. Social media use is ubiquitous among young adults in the United States, with nearly all reporting prior use [22]. Further, about 80% of young gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men report using a dating app on at least a monthly basis [23]. Past studies have shown that digital venues can successfully reach and recruit large numbers of participants, including young gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men, and that the content of study advertisements on these platforms can affect recruitment metrics [17,[24][25][26][27][28][29]. ...
Article
Background Young gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men have been referred to as a “hard-to-reach” or “hidden” community in terms of recruiting for research studies. With widespread internet use among this group and young adults in general, web-based avenues represent an important approach for reaching and recruiting members of this community. However, little is known about how participants recruited from various web-based sources may differ from one another. Objective This study aimed to determine how young gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men recruited from various web-based sources differ from one another in terms of participant characteristics and study engagement. Methods Data were collected as part of a randomized controlled trial of Outsmart HPV, a web-based human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination intervention for young gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men. From 2019 to 2021, we recruited young gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men in the United States who were aged 18-25 years and not vaccinated against HPV (n=1227) through various web-based avenues. We classified each participant as being recruited from either (1) social media (eg, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat), (2) a dating app (eg, Grindr, Scruff), or (3) some other digital recruitment source (eg, existing research panel, university-based organization). Analyses compared participants from these 3 groups on demographic and health-related characteristics and metrics involving study engagement. Results Most demographic and health-related characteristics differed by web-based recruitment source, including race or ethnicity (P<.001), relationship status (P<.001), education level (P<.001), employment status (P<.001), sexual self-identity (P<.001), health insurance status (P<.001), disclosure of sexual orientation (P=.048), and connectedness to the LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer) community (P<.001) The type of device used by participants during study enrollment also differed across groups, with smartphone use higher among participants recruited via dating apps (n=660, 96.6%) compared to those recruited via social media (n=318, 78.9%) or other digital sources (n=85, 60.3%; P<.001). Participants recruited via social media were more likely than those recruited via dating apps to complete follow-up surveys at 3 different timepoints (odds ratios 1.52-2.09, P=.001-.008). These participants also spent a longer amount of time viewing intervention content about HPV vaccination (3.14 minutes vs 2.67 minutes; P=.02). Conclusions We were able to recruit a large national sample of young gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men for a web-based HPV vaccination intervention via multiple methodologies. Participants differed on a range of demographic and health-related characteristics, as well as metrics related to study engagement, based on whether they were recruited from social media, a dating app, or some other digital recruitment source. Findings highlight key issues and considerations that can help researchers better plan and customize future web-based recruitment efforts of young gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04032106; https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04032106 International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID) RR2-10.2196/16294
... As such, behavioral interventions that promote the consistent and correct use of condoms remain the most cost-effective HIV/ STI prevention methods 20 . However, condoms are not always used consistently among MSM, and there is evidence that frequent dating app users are more likely to report inconsistent condom use with their casual partners 21 . It is therefore important to improve condom use to prevent MSM from being affected with HIV and other STIs. ...
... For example, studies have focused particularly on certain groups while ignoring other groups. The most studied group concerning the use of dating apps is that of men who have sex with men (MSM) because they were the first to use these applications due to their high prevalence rates much higher than those of the rest of the groupsand to different risks associated with problematic consumption and risky sexual behaviors (Badal et al., 2018;Hahn et al., 2018;He et al., 2024). ...
Article
Full-text available
The scientific literature generated as a result of the appearance and popularization of the use of dating apps still has some important limitations. Among them, the one that has focused particularly on some groups (men who have sex with men, university students) while ignoring others, stands out. Therefore, this study aimed to analyze the characteristics of dating app usage in middle-aged heterosexual people, paying special attention to the differences between men and women. A total of 298 heterosexual current dating app users (41.3 % women, 58.7 % men), aged between 25 and 50 years (M = 37.67, SD = 6.99), completed a battery of online questionnaires. Regular and intense use of dating apps was found in middle-aged people. Compared to women, men use more dating apps, have used them for a longer time, use them to a greater extent for casual sex, and for more time per day. It was also found that the time spent on dating apps and having a partner allowed for predicting some behaviors and relationships that arose in the apps. Knowing middle-aged people's dating app usage profiles and the differences between men and women will have relevant implications when designing and implementing preventive strategies and promoting these apps' recreational and responsible use from a gender perspective.
... In this regard, the opportunity should be taken to create health care points and health literacy on Grindr to improve the uptake of STI testing and to be able to detect and prevent STI outbreaks in the MSM population. Previous studies have already positively evaluated the use of Grindr advertisements for the recruitment of at-risk populations [4,9,38,[41][42][43]. Furthermore, according to our results, the use of Grindr for user recruitment from those participating in new sexual health trends, such as Chemsex, substance use, or PrEP use, should be taken into account for implementation intervention programs, such as harm reduction campaigns [42][43][44]. ...
Article
Full-text available
Men who have sex with men are at an increased risk of acquiring sexually transmitted infections, and although behavioral and contextual interventions have improved, infections continue to spread. Therefore, a new focus on recent trends in sexual health in this population is needed. The aim of this study was to describe the relationship between sociodemographic and behavioral characteristics according to Grindr usage patterns, the prevalence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and attitudes toward HIV testing. In January 2020, a cross-sectional study was conducted using a sample of 881 men who have sex with men (MSM) who completed an online questionnaire. We evaluated their Grindr use patterns (moderate or intensive) and explored the associations of these with sociodemographic behavioral characteristics, STIs, and attitudes toward HIV testing. Of 881 participants in total, 587 (66.6%) were intensive Grindr users. Compared to moderate users, these participants reported significantly higher numbers of casual sexual partners (76.2% vs. 23.8%; p < 0.001), were more likely to participate in Chemsex (77.3% vs. 22.7%: p = 0.031), and had a higher self-reported number of STIs (69.9% vs. 30.1; p = 0.046). They also demonstrated better attitudes toward HIV testing (69.7% vs. 30.3%; p = 0.045) and perceived themselves to be at moderate risk of HIV (71.2% vs. 28.8%: p = 0.048). Moreover, intensive Grindr users were 1.36 times more likely than moderate users to test positive for STIs (95%CI = 1.15–1.91; p = 0.048). With some limitations, age, sexual partners, intensive Grindr users, and PrEP uses were associated with the risk of STIs in the sample of Spanish Grindr users studied. As Grindr users are vulnerable to sociodemographic and behavioral factors that determine STIs and HIV infection, mainly among intensive users, it is necessary to highlight the importance of new trends such as online dating apps, PrEP use, substance use in sex, and Chemsex, and these need to be incorporated into online public health strategies.
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Theory and research on HIV and among men who have sex with men (MSM) have long suggested the importance of non-residential locations in defining structural exposures. Despite this, most studies within these fields define place as a residential context, neglecting the potential influence of non-residential locations on HIV-related outcomes. The concept of activity spaces, defined as a set of locations to which an individual is routinely exposed, represents one theoretical basis for addressing this potential imbalance. Using a one-time online survey to collect demographic, behavioral, and spatial data from MSM, this paper describes activity spaces and examines correlates of this spatial variation. We used latent class analysis to identify categories of activity spaces using spatial data on home, routine, potential sexual risk, and HIV prevention locations. We then assessed individual and area-level covariates for their associations with these categories. Classes were distinguished by the degree of spatial variation in routine and prevention behaviors (which were the same within each class) and in sexual risk behaviors (i.e., sex locations and locations of meeting sex partners). Partner type (e.g. casual or main) represented a key correlate of the activity space. In this early examination of activity spaces in an online sample of MSM, patterns of spatial behavior represent further evidence of significant spatial variation in locations of routine, potential HIV sexual risk, and HIV prevention behaviors among MSM. Although prevention behaviors tend to have similar geographic variation as routine behaviors, locations where men engage in potentially high-risk behaviors may be more spatially focused for some MSM than for others.
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Rural men who have sex with men (MSM) have few identifiable venues in which to congregate and meet potential sex partners. The Internet provides a venue for rural MSM to meet, and this is potentially troubling because studies of urban MSM suggest that HIV risk is higher for men who date online. The goals of this study were to identify venues where rural MSM meet their sexual partners and to examine their association with high-risk sexual practices. Six hundred sixty-three predominantly single, gay, Caucasian MSM completed an online survey of their sexual activities. Results showed that the Internet and bars were the most popular venues for meeting sex partners. Highest rates of risk behaviors were associated with Internet dating and venues in which immediate sexual encounters typically occur, suggesting that prevention in rural areas should target multiple-risk environments.
Conference Paper
Theoretical Background and research questions/hypothesis: The successful implementation of campaigns and initiatives for men who have sex with men (MSM) is contingent upon the ability to effectively reach the audience. While knowledge of channel usage is important, the effective delivery of messages also requires an understanding of message acceptability within a given channel. Finally, it is important to identify specific audiences within the MSM population and the channels that best reach those subpopulations based on relevant demographic and behavioral characteristics. Methods: Between 2010 and 2013, CDC conducted formative research activities to identify appropriate channels to reach MSM which included: in-depth interviews with MSM (N=293), quantitative surveys with MSM (N=396), key informant interviews with key opinion leaders (N=11) and consultations with subject matter experts. A thematic analysis of qualitative data was conducted to identify audience segmentation within the MSM population (e.g., young black MSM (BMSM) or Latino MSM (LMSM)) and channels for different types of messaging (e.g., HIV testing or partner communication). Basic descriptive statistical and regression analyses examined the frequency and variability of different channels to reach MSM based on demographic (e.g., race/ethnicity, age) and behavioral characteristics (e.g., HIV testing frequency, risk factors). Results: A triangulation of data indicates that the majority of MSM use social media (e.g., Facebook, Twitter) and visit dating and hook-up sites (e.g., Adam4Adam, Grindr). Readership of print media tended to be low; however supplemental use of print media for specific audience segments was recommended (e.g., local newspapers targeted to older BMSM or LMSM). Partnerships with national and local LGBT organizations are essential for campaign dissemination success. Additionally, engaging nontraditional partners (e.g., adult entertainment industry and bloggers) may also be an effective way to reach MSM, particularly those at high risk for HIV. However, it should be noted that some consultants have expressed concern that utilizing sex-related sites for HIV prevention messages will result in message rejection. MSM are most interested in receiving information about HIV from the following locations: the doctor’s office, community health clinic, social networking sites, Pride Events, and dating and hook-up sites. There are similarities in the data across demographic audience segmentation, however, within target segments, important characteristics need to be considered. For example, engaging Spanish language radio stations is the best way to reach lower literacy LMSM. Behavioral data indicate that among BMSM, testing frequency is associated with use of dating and hook-up sites and desired sources for information about HIV. Conclusions: Segmenting the audience by demographic (e.g., race/ethnicity, age, income) and behavioral (e.g., HIV testing frequency, risk factors) characteristics will result in a more effective delivery of campaign messages. Implications for research and/or practice: To reach MSM overall consider using social and digital media, engaging relevant partners, and attending community pride events. Findings indicate that effective channels to reach BMSM and LMSM should be segmented by specific characteristics; younger BMSM and LMSM are more likely to respond to social and digital media messages, whereas traditional channels (e.g., radio, television) are more effective to reach older segments of the population.
Article
Background Geosocial networking applications (GSN apps) used for meeting sexual partners have become increasingly popular with men who have sex with men (MSM) since 2009. The current study aimed to determine if self-identified HIV-negative, MSM clinic attendees who used GSN apps have an increased incidence of sexually transmitted infections (STI) compared to self-identified HIV-negative, MSM attendees who met sexual partners via in-person venues, such as bars or clubs or through MSM-specific hook-up websites. Methods Data were collected between August 2011 and January 2013 on all self-identified HIV-negative, MSM clients visiting the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center for STI screening. A total of 7184 individuals tested for STIs and self-reported behaviours on drug use and social networking methods to meet sexual partners. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to analyse the results. Results Individuals who used GSN apps for meeting sexual partners had greater odds of testing positive for gonorrhoea (OR: 1.25; 95% CI 1.06 to 1.48) and for chlamydia (OR: 1.37; 95% CI 1.13 to 1.65) compared to individuals who met partners through in-person methods only. There were no significant differences in syphilis and HIV incidence between those who met partners via in-person venues only, on the internet or through GSN apps. Conclusions The present study concludes that sexual health clinic MSM attendees who are meeting on GSN apps are at greater risk for gonorrhoea and chlamydia than MSM attendees who meet in-person or on the internet. Future interventions should explore the use of these novel technologies for testing promotion, prevention and education.