265671 Grindr: Young MSM, sex risk, and geosocial networking smartphone applications

Monday, October 29, 2012 : 9:00 AM - 9:15 AM

Eric Rice, PhD , School of Social Work, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
Ian W. Holloway, MSW, MPH , School of Social Work, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
Hailey Winetrobe, MPH , School of Social Work, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
Harmony Rhoades, PhD , School of Social Work, University of California, Los Angeles, CA
Anamika Barman-Adhikari, MA, MSW, PhD Student , School of Social Work, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
Adam Carranza, BA , School of Social Work, University of Souther California, Los Angeles, CA
David Dent, BA , School of Social Work, University of Souther California, Los Angeles, CA
Shannon Dunlap, MSW , School of Social Work, University of Souther California, Los Angeles, CA
     
Background: Smartphone geosocial networking applications, like Grindr, have become a new venue through which young men who have sex with men (YMSM) can meet potential sex partners. To date, no data on HIV risk behaviors from a probability sample of men using such technologies has been reported.

Methods: Utilizing the geo-locating feature of Grindr, 197 YMSM were randomly recruited for and completed an online survey based on their location within West Hollywood and Long Beach, CA between August and October, 2011.

Results: Twenty-four percent of users reported no sexual encounters with Grindr-located partners. YMSM reported using Grindr for entertainment, socializing, partner-seeking, and gay community connection. Not all YMSM are using Grindr to find sex partners, in fact, 25% reported never having sex with someone they met through Grindr. YMSM who used Grindr to find sex partners, reported an additional two male sex partners in the prior 30 days. YMSM who have sex with persons met on Grindr report more condom use with their Grindr-met partners, relative to their partners met elsewhere (60% versus 40% condom use). YMSM with Grindr-located sex partners reported significantly more lifetime anal sex partners; however, 72% reported no differences in unprotected anal intercourse (UAI) between last Grindr- and other-located partners. Only 14.7% reported UAI with their last Grindr partner.

Conclusions: Geosocial networking applications were used by YMSM for a variety of reasons, and not exclusively for the purpose of sex-partner seeking. Sexual risk behavior with geosocial networking-located partners could be addressed with mobile HIV prevention applications.

Learning Areas:
Communication and informatics
Public health or related research
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
1. To examine the extent to which sex risk among young men who have sex with men is impacted by geosocial networking applications such as Grindr. 2. To identify new methods for recruiting young men who have sex with men, namely geosocial networking applications. 3. To assess the reasons young men who have sex with men use geosocial networking applications, including, but not limited to, seeking sex partners.

Keywords: HIV/AIDS, Telecommunications

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am the principal investigator of federally funded grants that focus on HIV prevention among high risk youth
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

Back to: 3041.0: Domestic Issues in HIV Prevention