According to the newly released data by the health officials in Rhode Island and Utah, the hookup apps have led to an increase in Sexually Transmitted diseases or STD including HIV, gonorrhea and syphilis.
The report revealed that there was a 33 percent rise in HIV cases from 3013 to 2014 due to the hookup apps or the dating apps. There was 79 percent increase seen in syphilis cases and 30 percent increase in gonorrhea cases.
The popular hookup apps include Tinder, Blender, Scruff, Grindr, Down, Happn, Pure, Glimpse, JSwipe, Hinge.
People who are using these happening and popular hookup apps must be careful and ensure that they do not fall prey to rising STD’s.
It was reported by Utah that the maximum rise in cases was in gonorrhea between 2011 and 2014. It was also reported that there was 700 percent rise in gonorrhea among other STD’s.
Some of the factors responsible for this rise are, unsafe sex, having multiple sex partners, anonymous sexual encounters, having sex under the influence of drugs and alcohol is leading to high risk behaviors.
The state health department has stated that the rising trend of STD is not only limited to Utah and Rhode Island, but it is happening across America.
Lynn Beltran, epidemiologist at the Salt Lake County STD clinic said, “The perfect storm has been brewing regarding the eruption of STD infections. With apps like Tinder and Grindr, for people who are interested in anonymous sex: it is right there at their fingertips.”
It is hard to get information of the potential infected person at clinics, because people are indulging in casual sex often and hence making it difficult for people to remember their sex partners.
Beltran said, “With the apps it’s virtually impossible to find people again.”
The main concern is that there are over 20 million new infections each year for HIV and STDs, and half of them are under 25. People of this age group generally rely on their phones for everything.
The only thing which can tackle the situation is by increasing awareness and having open conversation about the issue.
