This story was first published in digitalhealth.net
Dating apps must help tackle STI’s, health experts say
Health experts in Wales have urged the bosses behind dating apps to help tackle the rise in sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
The news comes as data has shown the incidence of men contracting Syphilis, gonorrhoea, herpes and chlamydia from 2012-14 in Wales has increased. Health professionals have blamed the rise on the increase in dating apps which encourage users to meet up for casual, often unprotected sex.
Jo Hinchliffe, a project officer in north Wales, said: "We would like to see dating websites and apps help promote safer sex messages.
"The more places people see those messages and the more normalised they become the better. However, we've heard that the cost of paying for advertising can be prohibitive, especially for charities and organisations working in sexual health with limited budgets.
"So it would be great for those companies to do more to help these messages be shared."
Laura Hamzic of the sexual health charity Brook, argued: “Dating apps are symbols of how much relationships have changed and as a result, they have become a convenient peg to hang rising STI rates on.
She added: "But really, there isn't much solid evidence that proves they are directly responsible. That said, if it's where people go to find partners then we would agree that they become a valuable point at which to push a safer sex message."
Meanwhile, a spokesman for the dating app Tinder commented: "An important aspect of any healthy relationship - whether formed on Tinder or otherwise - is ensuring sexual health and safety.
"While the CDC [Centre for Diseases and Control] conducted the largest and most credible study on the topic, it has never identified any connection that supports the idea that Tinder usage correlates with, let alone causes, an increase in STDs.
"We encourage our users to review and follow our health safety tips accessible through the app and on our website.”
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