And while apps like Tinder certainly make a casual hookup easier, do they really make it less safe? In May 2015, a report released by health officials in Rhode Island found that rates of syphilis, gonorrhea and HIV had risen sharply between 2013 and 2014. They speculated that similar increases were occurring nationwide, and that some of the increase could be attributed to the high-risk sexual behaviors perpetuated by sites like Tinder and Grindr. Official figures in the U.K. report that cases of gonorrhea have spiked 15% since Tinder's launch in 2012. This has led doctors all over England and Scotland to declare that apps are a huge part of the STI problem. Public Heath England determined that as many as six syphilis outbreaks across Britain were at least partially caused by apps. And all this time, I thought unprotected sex was the cause of spreading a sexually transmitted disease. Should I bleach my phone?
A representative from British Association for Sexual Health and HIV told the Daily Mail that, "You don't have to be a genius to work out that these sort of apps make having casual sex a damn sight easier. You can find, down to a meter or two, the nearest available person who is interested. This is something that just hasn't been available before." Except for pick-up bars, hooker strolls, porno theaters, sex clubs, swinger events, and all the other places people go when they're seeking random, anonymous sex.
Dr. Simms, a representative of Public Health England, asserts that, "Outbreaks that would once have been confined to one area [are now] spreading to other towns and cities." If that's true, maybe people should shorten their distance filters. Oh, and buy some damn condoms already. (Need more tips? Check out 11 Rules for Smart, Safe and Sexy Hookups.)
