Is it possible for hook-up apps to be both a cause and solution to the ever-increasing sexually transmitted infection rate in Australia?
The
reality is that STD infections are rising. And, even though they’ve
been around before Bumble and Tinder, it’s society’s own liberal
approach to sex that has resulted in the higher infection rate.
According to various studies, young people are not having sex as
often but do have casual partners.
The
more recent health information shows that the number of gonorrhea
cases each year has doubled with the number of syphilis cases
tripling. There is also a 43 percent rise in the number of chlamydia
cases.
Due
to the rise in STD cases, many dating apps designed for people with
an STD such as Hope and Positive Sings” have been developed. The
premise of these apps is modeled after the sites HIVNet and PozMatch
(both developed in the 1990s and geared toward individuals living
with HIV/AIDS. The apps are geared toward today’s technological
preferences and for the most common STDs such as chlamydia,
gonorrhea, HPV, herpes and syphilis.
How
do the apps work?
The
apps offer a dating atmosphere that lessens the stigma tied to STDs.
They allow people to find a person based on their preferences and STD
status, which will eliminate that awkward “I have this STD”
moment when dating.
Although
they are rather convenient, there is a price of using them. For
example, there are the phishing attempts; some legit dating apps have
been known to share users’ data with a third-party. Some people
have said the apps don’t eliminate the stigma but lead to STD
cliques.
One
person said they felt an app was being used by people who wanted to
put others down for their STD status.
It’s for these
reasons that industry experts urge people to proceed with caution
before using these STD-geared dating sites.
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