Looking for a partner offline? There's an app for that. Examining the risk between app and in-person meeting venues

Background: The use of app-based dating platforms accessed solely through mobile phones has increased in recent years. App-based dating creates a unique scenario in which people can connect with partners using a smartphone. This study compares the differences of sexual risk behaviors between partners met in-person and/or through mobile dating apps.

Methods: Participants of an electronic survey (n=1,322; ages 18-24) indicated the location they met sexual partners (apps and/or in-person) and subsequent sexual activity. A Z-test was performed to determine differences in condom use between partners met in-person versus through apps.  Among people who met partners both in-person and using apps, a McNemar’s chi-square test was performed to determine differences in condom use between partners met in-person versus through apps.

Results: Only a subset of participants had any sex (vaginal, anal, or oral) with someone they met in-person (n=452) or through an app (n=220) during the past three months. No statistically significant difference was found in condom use at first sex between people who met their most recent vaginal sex partners solely in-person (n=226) vs. solely via an app (n=63). Among participants who had vaginal sex during their first sexual encounter with partners they met both in-person and through an app (n=57), condom use at first sex did not differ between partners met in-person and partners met via apps.

Conclusions: This study suggests condom use did not vary based on the location participants met their partners. Mobile dating apps may mimic the risk behaviors taken with sexual partners met in-person.