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Technology and social media have altered the way we do just about everything—including the way that we date and set up potential flings. Unfortunately, according to Rhode Island’s Department of Health, the convenience of using popular hookup apps like Tinder and Grindr comes with a host of other problems.
In a recent press release, the department explained that social networking hookup sites are partially to blame for the rise in sexually transmitted diseases; however, specific apps and sites are not actually mentioned.
The recent uptick in STDs in Rhode Island follows a national trend. The increase has been attributed to better testing by providers and to high-risk behaviors that have become more common in recent years. High-risk behaviors include using social media to arrange casual and often anonymous sexual encounters, having sex without a condom, having multiple sex partners, and having sex while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Between 2013 and 2014, to the health department’s records show that infectious syphilis cases have increased by 79%, gonorrhea cases by 30% and HIV cases by approximately 33%. New cases of HIV and syphilis continued to increase among gay and bisexual men. The rate of infection of all sexually transmitted diseases also continued to have a larger impact on the Hispanic, African-American and young adult populations.
Of course, this isn’t the first time a link between social networking and STD infection rates has been suggested. A 2013 New York University study suggested that Craigslist was responsible for an increase of nearly 16% in HIV cases between 1999 and 2008, across 33 states.
While no form of contraception is 100% reliable except abstinence, of course, proper use of condoms significantly reduces the chances of STD and STI transmission.
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