A leading dating expert has recently criticized dating apps,
accusing them of being responsible for a recent rise in STI’s. They’ve claimed
that dating sites like Tinder, Grindr and Happn 'have to invest more time in
pushing a safe sex message’.
Why? In 2014, the number of people being diagnosed with
syphilis in England went up by a third, whilst the rate of gonorrhoea diagnosis
increased by 19%. In a world with advanced understanding of prevention
and diagnosis of sexually transmitted diseases, these are worrying stats.
Dr Peter Greenhouse recently told Newsbeat: ‘Because the
ease and rate at which we are able to ‘hook up’ correlates with the rate at
which we're able to contract gonorrhoea – or any other STI’.
'We are able to turn over partners more quickly with a
dating app and the quicker you change partners the more likely you are to get
infections. If enough people change partners quickly, and they've got other
untreated sexually transmitted infections, it might just start an explosion of
HIV in the heterosexual population. Apps could do that.'
Dr Peter Greenhouse’s logic is understandable, however – is
it really fair to blame dating sites?
Is it not the responsibility of the person to practice safe
sex and not the responsibility of the dating service? Everyone has a choice
whether or not to partake in protected or unprotected sex, so can the blame
really be pinned on dating sites?
A number of online dating representatives have defended
dating apps with the very same argument, saying they actively encourage the
practice of safe sex and member honesty when disclosing personal sexual
history. Some of the dating apps
we investigated even go as far to show a user’s STI status!
George Kidd, the chief executive of the Online Dating
Association disagreed with the links between dating apps and the rise in sexually
transmitted infections, “Our members are dating sites, not sex-encounter
businesses, but we should be alert to any particular situations in which health
advice is appropriate.”
With as many as 40% of new relationships now starting as a
result of online dating, people need to be more educated and responsible in terms of sexual health, no matter how and
where they've met their partner - as you
can tell, we feel quite strongly about the whole thing. The saying “better safe
than sorry” has never been more appropriate! So, whether the rising syphilis rates are to do with Tinder,
Grindr, Happn or any others mentioned, remains to be seen. Is it just a mere
assumption from health experts? Are they just looking to find a scapegoat?
Well, whatever the reason, we can be sure of some things…
get regular check-ups, use a condom and enjoy safe sex!
App safely, love Flirtify x
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