YMSM Grindr Users' Sex Risk Behavior with Partners Met On Grindr Versus Elsewhere

Introduction: Grindr, a geosocial networking app, has been labeled by the popular media as a “hook-up app.”  However, recent work shows that one-quarter of young men who have sex with men (YMSM) who use Grindr have never had sex with someone who they met on Grindr.  This presentation investigates YMSM Grindr users’ sex risk behavior differences with partners met on Grindr versus partners met elsewhere.

 

Methods:  Los Angeles area YMSM Grindr users (18-24 years old) were randomly selected through Grindr to complete an online anonymous questionnaire.  Respondents were asked about their behaviors with their last sex partner met on Grindr and their behaviors with their last partner not met on Grindr (e.g., online, in a bar, through friends, etc.).  Paired t-tests and multivariate logistic regression models assessed for unprotected anal sex with Grindr-met and non-Grindr-met partners by accounting for YMSM’s demographic characteristics, lifetime discrimination experience, Grindr use behaviors, and sexual activity with both partner types (N=138).

 

Results:  YMSM’s last non-Grindr-met partner were more likely to be a boyfriend/life partner at the time of sex, compared to their last Grindr-met partner.  Additionally, individuals were more likely to have unprotected anal sex with their last non-Grindr-met partner than their last Grindr-met partner.  However, there were no differences between engaging in sex under the influence of drugs or alcohol with YMSM’s last Grindr-met and non-Grindr-met partners. YMSM who experienced discrimination because of their sexual orientation (OR: 1.15, p<0.05), who have used Grindr for a longer period of time (OR: 1.89, p<0.05), and who have had more Grindr partners in the previous month (OR: 1.24, p<0.05) are more likely to have unprotected anal sex with their last Grindr-met partner.  YMSM were more likely to have unprotected anal sex with their last non-Grindr-met partner if their partner was a boyfriend/life partner (OR: 7.43, p<0.001) and if they also engaged in unprotected anal sex with their Grindr-met partner (OR: 4.92, p<0.01).

 

Conclusions:  An individual’s own behaviors are more important in regards to engaging in risky sexual activity than where individuals are meeting their sex partners.  HIV prevention programs must acknowledge that individuals are meeting their sex partners in a variety of venues and assess for lifetime history of discrimination experience.  More research is needed to determine why Grindr use duration is associated with a greater likelihood in engaging in unprotected anal sex with Grindr-met partners.   HIV prevention messaging may be incorporated into Grindr and other similar apps.  The apps can utilize their GPS features to identify nearby HIV testing locations and sites with free condoms.