Contributed by: kellyseal on Friday, January 07 2022 @ 07:50 am
Last modified on Friday, January 07 2022 @ 07:57 am
Gay dating apps are leading the way when it comes to encouraging users to disclose their STI status when they use dating apps, according to public health experts.
Health disclosures on dating apps have taken on new importance since the pandemic took hold, with more users asking potential matches about their vaccination and infection status before agreeing to meet in person. Because of the recent urgency and importance in keeping each other safe from Covid-19, and the rising cases of STIs, mainstream dating apps like Tinder and Bumble are now looking for effective ways of encouraging users to disclose their sexual health status, too.
Gay dating apps have long been ahead of the curve on this, encouraging users to disclose their STI status up front in the name of public health, according to the National Post[*1] .
There has long been a question of whether and how much dating apps should be held responsible for their users’ actions, especially when it comes to disclosing STIs. Some experts argue that diseases are able to spread more easily thanks to the use of dating apps, while others say the apps can play a crucial role in encouraging users to act responsibly.
While Tinder and Bumble might be searching for ways to promote STI disclosure effectively among their users, gay dating apps have traditionally put it front and center. According to the Post, the general manager for DaddyHunt said: “We’re doing a much better job than some of the larger hetero-oriented apps in terms of allowing people to disclose their testing practices and creating public service announcements to educate people.”
One reason, according to experts, is the gay community’s history with public health and the AIDs crisis. Because of its outsized impact on the LGBTQ+ community, people using gay dating apps are more eager to disclose their health information and inquire about others’ before meeting, especially when it comes to HIV. They are also far more open and detailed about their health status, providing crucial information such as the date of their last test, whether the virus is detectable in their blood if positive, whether they take PrEP (HIV prevention drugs), and condom use, to give their dates a clear picture of not only their STI status, but also their safety practices when it comes to sex.
The flip side of these types of disclosures is that gay dating apps have been more vulnerable to privacy violations. Grindr was recently fined over $7 million by the Norwegian Internet watchdog agency for sharing personal data such as HIV status with third party advertisers without getting consent from users. Still, information sharing is key to safe practices.
Experts also advocate for better education and more regular testing when it comes to STIs. The more empowered and in control dating app users are of their sexual health, the safer daters are overall.