Sex, HIV, and the Internet: Exploring variations in the online profiles of MSM in the United States

With the increasing pervasiveness of social media, the Internet has become an important venue for dating and sex. Not only does it introduce a unique array of opportunities and risks for men who have sex with men (MSM), it presents a valuable means through which to study sexual behavior. In this study, we collected data on what men report in their online profiles on two dating/hookup websites to explore possible geographical differences in social and cultural norms surrounding sex and HIV (N=5,588). Across the fifteen selected cities, significant differences emerged in reported HIV serostatus and stated preference for safer sex (condom use). These patterns suggest important contextual and demographic variations and point to a need for targeted, population-specific interventions. With a better understanding of the local factors driving risky sexual behavior, health communication messages and tailored online interventions could be developed to address the needs and concerns of specific groups.